Surviving Chaos: Europe charts its course in a world of “un-order”

Following a welcome by Ambassador Pedro Serrano, ECFR Director Mark Leonard presented key ideas from his forthcoming book Surviving Chaos: Geopolitics When the Rules Fail. He was joined by ECFR Board Members Carl Bildt, Ivan Krastev, and Helle Thorning-Schmidt, with the conversation expertly chaired by Gideon Rachman of the Financial Times.

Speakers agreed that the world has moved beyond “disorder” into a deeper condition of “un-order”, where established rules are no longer simply challenged but increasingly irrelevant. This shift demands a fundamental rethink of Europe’s strategic approach.

Among the key takeaways, speakers highlighted:

• The need for greater European agency across security, economic policy, and global influence, including urgent progress on the single market, defence capabilities, and investment in innovation.
• The importance of faster decision-making, stronger internal cohesion, and a willingness to act with greater strategic autonomy.
• The role of the EU–UK relationship, particularly in security and defence, reflecting shared interests in an increasingly unstable international environment.

The event concluded with a clear message: in a world of “un-order”, the answer lies in a more united, agile, and assertive Europe.