Europe's Common Security and Defence Policy: Capacity-Building, Experiential Learning, and Institutional Change

Description

The EU's emergence as an international security provider, under the first Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations in the Balkans in 2003, is a critical development in European integration. In this book, which relies on extensive interviews with CSDP officials, Michael E. Smith investigates how the challenge of launching new CSDP operations causes the EU to adapt itself in order to improve its performance in this realm, through the mechanism of experiential institutional learning. However, although this learning has helped to expand the overall range and complexity of the CSDP, the effectiveness of this policy tool still varies widely depending on the nature of individual operations. The analysis also calls in to question whether the CSDP, and the EU's broader structures under the 2009 Treaty of Lisbon, are fit for purpose in light of the EU's growing strategic ambitions and the various security challenges facing Europe in recent years.

Michael E. Smith is Professor of International Relations at the University of Aberdeen and a former Reader in International Relations at the University of St Andrews. He was a Fulbright Scholar to the EU. He has co-founded the 'EU as a Global Actor' section of the European Union Studies Association, and is on the editorial boards of the Journal of European Public Policy, European Security, and Contemporary Security Policy. His books include Europe's Foreign and Security Policy (Cambridge, 2003), Governing Europe's Neighbourhood (2007) and International Security: Politics, Policy, Prospects (2010).

'This is a first-rate study of CSDP, which stands out from much of the competition due to its clarity and its focus upon the important interlinkages (or occasional lack thereof) between security cooperation, policy and task expansion, and institutional change. Smith is also to be commended on providing the reader with his analysis of the Global Strategy and the ramifications of 'Brexit' for the future of CSDP.' Simon Duke, European Institute of Public Administration 'This is a must-read for anybody interested in EU security and defense policy. Professor Michael E. Smith provides the most detailed overview of the evolution of European crisis management operations thus far. His argument that much of the evolution can be explained by 'learning' is interesting and persuasive.' Marina E. Henke, Northwestern University 'One of the best things I have read on this important topic.' Anand Menon, King's College London 'Indispensable reading for anyone interested in processes of international and European security cooperation.' Sophie Vanhoonacker, Maastricht University 'An excellent job of highlighting the weaknesses and strengths, limits, and potential of security and defense cooperation in the EU.' Stanley Sloan, Scowcroft Centre/Atlantic Council of the United States and Middlebury College