The EU's Common Security and Defence Policy: A work in Progress?

Abstract

"The World must know what happened and never forget"

General Eisenhower's quotation demonstrated the severity of the suffering, brutality and inhuman treatment pertrated by the Third Reich against the civilian population. Allied Forces were appalled by the nature of these atrocities subsequently discovered after Germany's surrender. The sheer destruction of Europe combined with the civilian death toll strongly influenced European leaders to co-operation in the area of defence in order to prevent a future conflict in Europe. Following the war, Europe became embroiled in a political and military struggle between two opposing superpower civilisations namely the USSR and USA.

This thesis aims to identify and critique the political contours encompassing the foundation, evolution and development of European security and defence policy. This thesis will conduct an analysis of the influencing factors impeding EU security an defence progression and conclude with an overview of CSDP today and its challenges in the future.