Date of Award

2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Hicks, Barbara

Keywords

ESDP, European Defence, International Security, European Union

Area of Concentration

Political Science

Abstract

With momentum on economic integration subsiding, the EU has endeavored since 1999 to foster a distinctly European military capability to be used toward autonomous Union action in crisis management operations. However, the broad mandate set for the ESDP in the European Security Strategy has left many ambiguities as to the EU's role in international crisis management. Two central questions are important for understanding the ESDP as an institution and its role in the wider international security framework. First, what factors influence whether the EU accepts or declines an opportunity to launch a military operation? And, second, is the ESDP capable of meeting the established mandate and goals of a military operation? This study reveals that three factors are pivotal in influencing the EU's decision to intervene: salient member state interests; UN, NATO, or AU involvement; and the nature of the conflict in question. Gauging mission efficacy reveals a striking disjuncture between problems with internal mission coherence and external operational success. Although the ESDP adds value to the international security framework, particularly in specialized small-force operations, the ESDP's tenuous legitimacy makes the EU hesitant to undertake risky or uncertain operations.

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