THE FRENCH SECURITY AND DEFENCE ISSUE How does strategic culture help explain French views on common security and defence cooperation’s?

Abstract

This thesis aims to explore how the theory of strategic culture could provide a better understanding of France’s views on common security and defence cooperation, as well as gain better insight as to how it might explain the specific actions of France, with a focus on PeSCo and EI2. Previous research shows that the French had shifted their views on military cooperation in the last decade and simultaneously the types of threats against Europe had also changed during that time. A discourse analysis has been used to examine the material that consist of the French security and defence government reports. The analysis is using the theory of strategic culture, the idea that you can only understand a state’s defence and security by looking at its mindset. It sees that each state has a very internal uniqueness that has been formed by its specific history. Based on the theory three concepts of French strategic culture were identified and analysed. The results showed the importance of French sovereignty, the strengthening of the EU autonomy and cooperation with other military motivated countries and that these were some of the reasons behind the actions and views regarding common security and defence cooperation’s. It also helped to explain that the French interest in the EI2 had to do with the fact that the EU decided to go on a more inclusive line with PeSCo, something France did not have an interest in. Instead, they created the EI2 where they could take the lead.