Bourdieusian Fields in Supranationally Supported Multilateral Science Encounters: Practising Occasional Relationality of Algeria and Egypt in the European Research Area

This article elaborates on how the European Research Area supports research-intense resilience-building across the European Southern Neighbourhood, with a focus on Algeria and Egypt. Systematically selected Horizon 2020-funded projects serve as the main empirical material to process trace the patterns of specific research engagements that link Algeria and Egypt to Europe-based expertise hubs. The hypothesised straw-in-the-wind leans rather cogently. Horizon 2020-funded projects offer access to a notable variety of entities in Algeria and Egypt in the European Research Area. The diversity of Europe-based project managers offers these opportunities to benefit from outstanding circles of internationally renowned experts. The multitude of themes and sciences covered by the examined projects proves that the European Research Area houses a vast pool of expertise through time-bound capacity-building measures accessible to the European Southern Neighbourhood. Projects provide tailored solutions to diverse issues in an international and Mediterranean-specific context. The acquired diagnostic evidence highlights the considerable value of the European Research Area in translating the goals of the European Union’s external action and aspirations conveyed through diplomacy into joint plans and tangible action. The European Research Area is a framework field characterised by a thick layer of networks closely intertwined with other international niche consultative and concerted action formats.