Until the late 20th century geographical analysis focussed mainly on delimitation and characterisation of spatial differences through regional and / or thematic lenses; while historical studies often lacked a strong spatial component with the geographies taken for granted as a background, to larger scale political analyses and narratives, especially in the English-speaking world. Nonetheless, time-space compression has accelerated from local to greater geographical scales due to technology and the digital revolution along with cultural shifts and inter-disciplinary research. In this context, emerging cultural, political and geopolitical orthodoxies and frameworks are explored in this paper, with emphasis on Europe. Landmark events ranging from the Arab Spring Revolutions to Jihadism and rising populism in liberal democracies are symptomatic of the challenges arising between centripetal and centrifugal forces in a majority of EU states and their place in the so-called world order.