Differentiated (dis)integration in practice: The diplomacy of Brexit and the “low” politics of “high” politics

TY - JOUR

T1 - Differentiated (dis)integration in practice

T2 - The diplomacy of Brexit and the “low” politics of “high” politics

AU - Svendsen, Øyvind

AU - Adler-Nissen, Rebecca

PY - 2019/11/1

Y1 - 2019/11/1

N2 - This article advances a practice approach to differentiated (dis)integration in European security and defence in light of Brexit. We propose that understanding how differentiation in the area of security and defence is given meaning on the ground requires examining the everyday social practices of officials and military professionals. Therefore, we focus on the ‘low politics’ of security and defence cooperation in Europe. We do so by entering the diplomatic engine room in the EU's Political and Security Committee (PSC). We show how arguments that Brexit will either be the ultimate death blow to the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) or that it will be the catalyst for deeper military cooperation fail to take account of the social dynamics and the historical path of security and military cooperation in Europe. Future research on differentiation should pay particular attention to how such dynamics play out in the everyday social negotiation of meaning among practitioners.

AB - This article advances a practice approach to differentiated (dis)integration in European security and defence in light of Brexit. We propose that understanding how differentiation in the area of security and defence is given meaning on the ground requires examining the everyday social practices of officials and military professionals. Therefore, we focus on the ‘low politics’ of security and defence cooperation in Europe. We do so by entering the diplomatic engine room in the EU's Political and Security Committee (PSC). We show how arguments that Brexit will either be the ultimate death blow to the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) or that it will be the catalyst for deeper military cooperation fail to take account of the social dynamics and the historical path of security and military cooperation in Europe. Future research on differentiation should pay particular attention to how such dynamics play out in the everyday social negotiation of meaning among practitioners.

U2 - 10.1111/jcms.12960

DO - 10.1111/jcms.12960

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0021-9886

JO - Journal of Common Market Studies

JF - Journal of Common Market Studies

ER -