From Homo Pugnans to Homo Partum: Societal Agency and the New Nature of Power
The European Neighbourhood Council (ENC) has released its new analysis titled “From Homo Pugnans to Homo Partum: Societal Agency and the New Nature of Power.”
The article is authored by Dr. Leila Alieva, Associate of Russian and East European Studies at the University of Oxford, Senior Fellow at the Friends of Europe think tank in Brussels and ENC Academic Council Member.
The paper examines the changing nature of power and contemporary warfare, highlighting the growing contradiction between increasingly empowered societies and the continued dominance of state-centric and personalised political leadership. Drawing on developments in Ukraine and other contemporary conflicts, it argues that technological advancements, digital connectivity, and societal agency are reshaping traditional understandings of political influence and international relations.
The analysis emphasizes the need to move beyond military dominance and territorial control towards greater societal inclusion, recognition, and co-creation. It explores how empowering individuals and communities, promoting human dignity, and recognising creative potential can contribute to more effective diplomacy, conflict prevention, and sustainable peace.
The full paper is available here.
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