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Explore how small EU states adapt in defense integration, their support for international policy institutions, and the challenges they face in the EU's security landscape. Analyze the roles of neutral, non-aligned, and NATO ally states, and the impact of post-cold war and post-9/11 security contexts on their strategies.
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The small states and defense integration • Definition of the small states as security actors: try to adapt to rather than dominate their external environment; they have less influence on international events and have a smaller margin of time and error (Wivel, 2005) • Why do they support international institutionalization of foreign and defense policy?: constrain the great powers, voice opportunities, facilitate peaceful resolution of conflicts • The integration dilemma: entrapment vs abandonment
Traditional security identity of the EU smaller MSs • Neutral and non-aligned states: - Ireland • Sweden • Finland • Austria • NATO allies: • Denmark • the Netherlands • Portugal • Greece
The first post cold war decade • The first post cold war decade- soft security agenda of the European Union, loose security integration structures, mild integration dilemma for the smaller MSs- they could preserve autonomy while maximizing their influence • Post 9/11 experiences: ‘a great power directorate in the EU security decision-making’ concern; the integration dilemma for the smaller MSs