New emerging challenges necessitate new security strategies for small states. This research seeks to understand the potential use of securitization by small EU state representatives in the EU....Show moreNew emerging challenges necessitate new security strategies for small states. This research seeks to understand the potential use of securitization by small EU state representatives in the EU. Previous literature on the topic suggests a multiplicity of reasons for small states to join IOs such as the EU, but less attention has been given to how these small states act within IOs. While securitization has previously been understood to occur in a domestic setting, the idea that small states may utilize unconventional means to advance domestic agendas suggests the concept's potential role in an international setting. Both discourse and content analyses are utilized to establish a process tracing model regarding the potential use of securitization in the EU by representatives of two cases, the EU member states Croatia and Estonia. The findings show that only the Croatian case had representatives successfully utilizing securitization. Nonetheless, the findings illustrate that contrary to what has generally been assumed, securitization is not constrained to a domestic setting and does take place between international actors in international relations. Successful securitization can lead to grave consequences if unchecked, and often relies on unfactual narratives. Due to the recent increase of intentional disinformation in politics, awareness of securitization theory’s possible presence, between state representatives and the EU but also more broadly in international relations as a whole, is crucial for both political observers as well as political actors.Show less
