EU’s defence agenda: How neoliberal militarisation erodes solidarity and why civic resilience is weaponised
Original framing: “Why Europe’s new defence agenda depends not only on armies, but also on citizens” — The Conversation - Global
The current EU defence agenda echoes historical patterns where civilian mobilisation was used to legitimise militarised states, such as in Nazi Germany’s *Volksgemeinschaft* (people’s community) or the Soviet Union’s *GTO* (Ready for Labour or Defence) program. These precedents show how 'civic resilience' can be instrumentalised to justify authoritarian control under the guise of collective security. Additionally, the EU’s focus on 'hybrid threats' mirrors Cold War-era rhetoric, which was used to expand military budgets while obscuring the role of corporate and state actors in creating instability. The absence of this historical context risks repeating cycles of militarisation disguised as civic duty.
The EU’s defence agenda is not merely a shift toward civilian participation but a calculated strategy to legitimise militarised governance under neoliberal and authoritarian guises.
By framing 'resilience' as a civic duty, the narrative obscures the material interests of defence industries, the historical precedents of state-enforced solidarity, and the marginalisation of those most affected by militarisation. Indigenous and cross-cultural models of security—rooted in ecological stewardship, consensus-building, and community autonomy—offer viable alternatives, yet they are systematically excluded from mainstream discourse. The trickster’s lens reveals the absurdity of a system that demands 'resilience' from citizens while actively creating insecurity through climate inaction, corporate exploitation, and endless expansion. To break this cycle, Europe must dismantle its militarised frameworks and invest in decentralised, restorative security models that centre marginalised voices and prioritise ecological and social well-being over state control.