Understanding European Security and Defense Policy: Neorealist and Liberal Approaches

Since its establishment in 1957, the principal defining characteristic of the European Union has been that it is a purely civilian power. However, two years after the signature of the Treaty of Amsterdam, which seemed to have reinforced this civilian identity, the EU no longer abided by its self-imposed taboo on hard security issues. Following the Anglo-French summit at St. Malo, 3-4 December 1998, the EU began working toward a military dimension, seeking capacity for autonomous military action. This study seeks to explain the rise of the European Security and Defense Policy (ESPD). It draws on the two dominant traditions in the analysis of international politics and security policy: neorealism and liberalism. The study finds that both traditions offer important insights into the origins of ESDP, yet neither by itself has sufficient predictive power. Integrating the systemic and domestic factors is necessary in order to produce compelling explanations of inter-state security cooperation.