Defining The Critical Success Factors of PESCO to Achieve an Effective EU Defence System: A Strategic Management Analysis

Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is a defence and cooperation framework that has been largely overlooked for some time. However, considering the Russian invasion of Ukraine and potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy, the EU has decided to reconsider it to strengthen its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). While scholarly attention on PESCO has predominantly focused on its role in furthering EU integration, there has been less emphasis on its operational potential to enhance the EU defence system. This thesis aims to address this gap by providing a strategic management analysis of how PESCO can be utilized to bolster the EU's defence posture. First, an overview of PESCO is provided, including its historical context and the reasons behind the EU's decision to revive this framework, concluding with the presentation of the research question. Second, the theoretical foundation is outlined, from EU integration theory by Haas to the selected framework by Moore, to analyse...Show morePermanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is a defence and cooperation framework that has been largely overlooked for some time. However, considering the Russian invasion of Ukraine and potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy, the EU has decided to reconsider it to strengthen its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). While scholarly attention on PESCO has predominantly focused on its role in furthering EU integration, there has been less emphasis on its operational potential to enhance the EU defence system. This thesis aims to address this gap by providing a strategic management analysis of how PESCO can be utilized to bolster the EU's defence posture. First, an overview of PESCO is provided, including its historical context and the reasons behind the EU's decision to revive this framework, concluding with the presentation of the research question. Second, the theoretical foundation is outlined, from EU integration theory by Haas to the selected framework by Moore, to analyse PESCO and the EU CSDP, addressing the research gap. This section also includes a literature review. Third, the methodology used in the research is detailed, involving a qualitative case study analysis through document analysis and interviews. Fourth, the data analysis and contributions from respondents are presented, culminating to answer the research question. Finally, the findings are discussed, suggesting topics for further research in the field and providing policy recommendations for EU member states and policymakers.Show less

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Defining The Critical Success Factors of PESCO to Achieve an Effective EU Defence System: A Strategic Management Analysis