This book examines how Europe’s political order is being reshaped by unprecedented challenges. Economic recession, inflation, climate-driven disasters, and migration pressures are intersecting with political instability and war. The Ukrainian war has disrupted long-standing security arrangements, ending Scandinavian neutrality and altering global power dynamics. Rising energy costs and public disillusionment further highlight the urgent question: Can Europe transform itself into a world power?
 
The volume provides a clear framework for understanding these shifts, drawing on contributions from leading scholars and regional experts. It explores domestic pressures, strategic realignments, and international perspectives from countries and regions such as the United States, Russia, India, Africa, and the Middle East. Ukraine and Poland are discussed as borderline states facing unique challenges. Insights from small yet significant states in the Baltic region, Norway, and the High North highlight the importance of strategic realignments.  With its coverage of security, economics, and diplomacy, this book offers essential insights into the changing balance of power in Europe and its implications for the future of democracy and global stability.

Veena Gill is a retired senior civil servant who was formerly a Senior Adviser and Program Director at Norway’s Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir). In this capacity she worked with the Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) in Brussels on EEA and Norway Grants and developed bilateral university exchange programmes between Norway and Europe and between Norway, Asia and Africa financed by Norad and helped establish the Indo-Norwegian Cooperation Program in Higher Education and Research. Her career included research and teaching positions at PRIO and the universities of Oslo and Bergen (both Norway), University of Delhi, St. Stephen’s College as well as leadership roles in refugee affairs. A political scientist by training, Gill holds degrees from the University of Delhi (India), Jawaharlal Nehru University (India), and the Australian National University. She has published on international politics, Indian Foreign policy, the military in Pakistan , migration, and gender studies and remains active in public life through Rotary and media contributions.

Vidya Nadkarni is a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of San Diego, USA. Her research focuses on the foreign policies of major global powers, including Russia, China, and India. She is the author of Strategic Partnerships in Asia and the co-editor of volumes on emerging powers and global security. She is the co-author of The Foreign Policy of Russia (7th ed., 2023). She teaches courses on international relations theory, American foreign policy, and Russian politics. She has also been active in USD’s Honors and Learning Community programs for a long time. She is deeply committed to mentoring students and has published extensively on the intersection and divergence of the foreign policies of China, India, and Russia.