Defending European integration by (symbolically) integrating European defence? Germany and its ambivalent role in European security and defence policy. Issue 2 (17th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bunde, Tobias
• Is Part Of: Journal of European integration. Volume 43:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 243
• Page End: 259
• Publication Date: 2021-02-17
• Subjects: Germany -- European Union -- defence -- integration -- military; European federation -- Periodicals; Political science -- Periodicals; Europe -- Economic integration -- Periodicals; 341.24205
• DOI: 10.1080/07036337.2021.1877693
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0703-6337

Abstract

ABSTRACT: For many German policymakers, a commitment to European integration in defence is a necessary means to further the end of European integration in general – in stark contrast to French leaders who see European integration as the means to reach the end of a stronger European defence. Although there is general support for European defence cooperation and even integration among the German public and state elites, other ideational factors, most notably wide-spread anti-militarist attitudes, military planners' traditional embeddedness in NATO planning procedures, and a deep commitment to parliamentary control of the armed forces, present manifest hurdles for real capacity-building on the supranational level. As a result, German efforts to integrate defence policy within the EU have been largely symbolic, while real progress takes place in other (bilateral or minilateral and often German-led) frameworks. Berlin has thus contributed considerably to the increasing institutional fragmentation and territorial differentiation in European defence.