Towards An EU Military Ethos

Abstract. Since the late 1990s, we have witnessed a substantial expansion in the European Union’s crisis management efforts. Less attention, however, has been given to the way in which the involvement in EU crisis management affects the roles and missions of the participating soldiers. This article seeks to address this issue by proposing that as a consequence of the increased crisis management efforts, a specific military ethos is about to emerge in the EU. The ethos can be characterized with three cornerstone commands: ‘Pretend to be warlike but don’t fight’; ‘Master civilian skills’; and ‘Redefine your patriotism’. It will be suggested that, its added value in crisis management notwithstanding, the emerging military ethos does not address the initial aims of the ESDP. Rather, it constitutes a strategic handicap to the Union’s external capabilities.

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