ISSUE: 1/2026
- Volume 30
- Number 1
- 2026
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Studia Europejskie –
Studies in European Affairs
ISSN: 1428-149X
e-ISSN: 2719-3780
License
Articles published in the journal are under a Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial – No Derivatives 4.0 International License
Publication co-financed by Ministry of Science and Higher Education pursuant to the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Science of 3 August 2021 (Journal of Laws of 2021, item 1514) on the “Development of Scientific Journals” programme.
Publikacja dofinansowana przez Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego na podstawie rozporządzenia Ministra Edukacji i Nauki z 3 sierpnia 2021 r. (Dz. U. z 2021 r. poz. 1514) w sprawie programu „Rozwój czasopism naukowych”.
Publication co-financed by the University of Warsaw within the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” programme.
Czasopismo otrzymało dofinasowanie w ramach Programu „Inicjatywa Doskonałości – Uczelnia Badawcza”.
Sustainable Development Goals as Instruments of Soft Power – The EU as a Case Study of Influence in the Global South
Abstract
In the contemporary geopolitical landscape, the European Union is increasingly reorienting its foreign policy towards sustainability, leveraging the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to project global influence. However, a significant research gap persists concerning the specific use of energy-related goals – particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) – as a dedicated instrument of soft power in relations with the Global South. This article analyses how the EU utilises SDG 7 as a soft power instrument, seeking to identify the specific mechanisms of this influence and the key strategic programmes through which it is implemented.
Employing an analytical-synthetic approach based on qualitative desk research, the study critically analyses EU strategic documents (such as the Global Gateway) and relevant academic literature. The findings confirm that the EU’s clean energy investments function as a multi-level soft power tool, building its image as a “global responsible stakeholder” through green diplomacy, while positioning it as a promoter of sustainable modernisation at the local level. The research identifies the Global Gateway strategy, supported by flagship initiatives such as the Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative (AEGEI) and Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), as the primary implementation mechanism. The EU is strategically employing SDG 7 to project a distinct form of “green soft power” that hybridises “top-down” influence on elites with “bottom-up” engagement with the broader populace. The article concludes that, while the projection of this soft power is evident, further empirical research – such as field surveys and discourse analysis in recipient countries – is necessary to determine its actual reception and effectiveness in extenso.
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DOI: 10.33067/SE.1.2026.2
Language: English
Pages: 21-40
How to Cite:
Harvard
Adamczyk, M. and Kubis, L. (2026) "Sustainable Development Goals as Instruments of Soft Power – The EU as a Case Study of Influence in the Global South". Studia Europejskie – Studies in European Affairs, 1/2026, pp. 21-40. DOI: 10.33067/SE.1.2026.2