The Evolution of ESDP: Recent Political Developments and Social Constructivism

Abstract: The formation of ESDP (European Security and Defense Policy) is one of the most important building blocks shaping the European security structure and the European integration process since the beginning of the 21st century. Even though the integration engine was injured by the rejection of the European Constitutional Treaty in France and the Netherlands, the ESDP can be seen as currently one of the most dynamic areas in European integration. This dynamism takes the attention of theorists attempting to explain the security and defence integration from their own point of view. Social Constructivism, Realism and Realist version of Liberalism, namely Liberal Intergovernmentalism (LI) are three theories having different emphasis on not only the security integration of the European Union (EU) but also the definition of the security concept.