The EU as a global security actor post Lisbon: Institutionalising liberal norms in a multipolar world
Author
Callow, John
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2012
Submitted on
2012-05-22
Abstract
This thesis examines how the European Union can strengthen its role as a global security actor after the Lisbon Treaty in a multipolar, highly interconnected order by institutionalising liberal norms and effective multilateralism. Using a theoretical framework that combines intergovernmentalism and sociological institutionalism, complemented by complex interdependence and liberal internationalism, it analyses the Lisbon innovations—most notably the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the roles of the High Representative and the President of the European Council—and the Europeanisation of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The study maps tensions between national sovereignty and supranational coordination and identifies key defence governance and capability challenges, including wasted resources, duplication, industry-driven protection, weak coordination, divergent national visions, and intergovernmental constraints. It argues for building on Lisbon by empowering the EEAS as a coordinating diplomatic service, developing the new top posts innovatively, formulating a global strategy anchored in international law and multilateral institutions, and using frameworks such as Permanent Structured Cooperation and Defence (PSCD) while adapting the European Defence Agency (EDA). The broader aim is for the EU to embed itself and help anchor rising powers within international institutions and to support reforms that better reflect democratic principles and a multipolar distribution of power. As presented in the excerpt, these are primarily normative and institutional recommendations rather than empirically tested findings.
Specialet undersøger, hvordan EU kan styrke sin rolle som global sikkerhedsaktør efter Lissabontraktaten i en multipolær og tæt forbundet verdensorden ved at institutionalisere liberale normer og effektiv multilateralisme. Med udgangspunkt i en teoretisk ramme, der kombinerer intergovernmentalisme og sociologisk institutionalisme, suppleret af komplekse indbyrdes afhængigheder og liberal internationalisme, analyserer studiet Lissabon-innovationerne—især Det Europæiske Udenrigstjeneste (EEAS) samt rollerne som højrepræsentant og formand for Det Europæiske Råd—og europæiseringen af den fælles sikkerheds- og forsvarspolitik (CSDP). Analysen kortlægger spændinger mellem national suverænitet og overstatslig koordinering og peger på centrale kapacitets- og styringsudfordringer i forsvaret, herunder ressourcespild, duplikation, industripolitiske hensyn, svag koordinering, forskellige nationale visioner og intergovernmentalistiske barrierer. Specialet argumenterer for at bygge videre på Lissabon ved at styrke EEAS som koordinerende diplomatitjeneste, udvikle de nye topstillinger innovativt, formulere en global strategi forankret i international ret og multilaterale institutioner, samt gøre brug af rammer som Permanent Structured Cooperation and Defence (PSCD) og tilpasse Det Europæiske Forsvarsagentur (EDA). Målet er, at EU både forankrer sig selv og medvirker til at indbinde fremvoksende magter i internationale institutioner og støtte reformer, der bedre afspejler demokratiske principper og en multipolær magtfordeling. Da teksten primært præsenterer et normativt og institutionsanalytisk argument, fremstår konklusionerne som anbefalinger frem for empirisk testede fund.
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