European Union Security Dynamics: In The New National Interest (New Security Challenges) (repost)

This book shows how France and Britain are leaders in EU security and defence policy, and explains why both states need each other in this policy area. The lack of relevant military capacity in Europe today implies that the US favours a strong EU in this field.

This book explores the security dynamics in the EU, especially the role
domestic politics has come to play in EU security policy after the cold
war. As long as threats were existential to the state – as in traditional
inter-state wars, security policy remained insulated from domestic pressures
and public discussion. This was the case in the long cold war period
and in previous wars where war meant war, and peace – the absence of
war. Domestic actors played scant role in security and defence policy
throughout these decades because it was eminently important to retain
national unity in the face of an external enemy. The potential use of
military force was not an option, but a necessity.

This book shows how France and Britain are leaders in EU security and defence policy, and explains why both states need each other in this policy area. The lack of relevant military capacity in Europe today implies that the US favours a strong EU in this field.

This book explores the security dynamics in the EU, especially the role
domestic politics has come to play in EU security policy after the cold
war. As long as threats were existential to the state – as in traditional
inter-state wars, security policy remained insulated from domestic pressures
and public discussion. This was the case in the long cold war period
and in previous wars where war meant war, and peace – the absence of
war. Domestic actors played scant role in security and defence policy
throughout these decades because it was eminently important to retain
national unity in the face of an external enemy. The potential use of
military force was not an option, but a necessity.