Restructuring the State - EU Police Missions and the Consequences of Discourse

Abstract: The purpose is to answer the question: what are the consequences of the EU discourse on civilian crisis management for the social structures? Critical discourse analysis has been used, both as theory and as method together with social constructivism and the concepts of power and policing. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews with 16 Swedish police officers with experience from EU missions were conducted and the transcribed interviews comprise the main material combined with key texts. The analysis shows that the EU discourse has had profound consequences for the social structures. It affects the identity of those working and their view of the other but more importantly it alters the social relationships, placing the EU in a situation of control versus the states the missions are assisting with a focus more on the internal security needs of the EU than of the receiving state. The discourse also affects the systems of knowledge and by taking for granted the meaning of concepts such as best European standard the officers are left with little guidance and continuity is not created. All in all, the EU is engaged in a strengthening and restructuring of the state legitimised through the discourse.