France And The Eu Security And Defense Policy (esdp): Europe Of The Two-way Movement,

Existing studies on the European Union (EU) member states and the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) do not give a full picture of the interactiveness of the two-way dynamics of Europeanization. This paper argues that there exists two-way dynamics of Europeanization between France and the ESDP, through which France has successfully projected its preference of an autonomous, credible and effective "European Defence" to the EU, and shaped the development of the ESDP. At the same time, the European integration process and the development of the ESDP have exerted the adaptation pressures on France, and forced France to adjust its preferences and policies. The two-way dynamics of Europeanization is characterized as interactive, asymmetric, historical and alternative, which reflects the power dynamics between France and the EU, and France and the other member states in the process of the ESDP. Asymmetry is the most defining characteristic.In the two-way dynamics of Europeanization between France and the ESDP, the degree of asymmetry differs in the different stages. However, by and large, the projection of France's preferences and policies has been stronger than the degree to which France has been Europeanized. In the process of pursing the ESDP, France had successfully projected its preferences and expectations to the EU, through a French-centrism, intergovernmentalism and Europeanism doctrine, and the Europeanization of French security and defense policy. ESDP itself is the achievement of a long-term goal of France. After that, France's preferences and policies have been increasingly Europeanized: the EU has become a framework that France increasingly depends on in terms of capabilities and legitimacy, France also has had to make compromises with other member states. France's traditional priorities on the political goals of the "European Defence" and the autonomy of the ESDP has given way to a realistic and pragmatic policy, which emphasizes capability improvement and normalization of the relations with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). After coming to power, President Sarkozy adopted a new national defense and security strategy and France rejoined the NATO integrated military structure. The "Europeanization" of France's national defense and security strategy has not changed and France continues to reiterate its commitment to an autonomic European defense and the progress of the ESDP. France projects its preferences of institution construction and capability improvement to the Lisbon Treaty, and expects to enhance its control and influence on ESDP through the "multi-speed Europe" and "pioneer group" initiatives. While France's return to the NATO integrated military structure is an adjustment to the adaptaion pressures from other member states, but France's primary objective is to dispel the worries of the United States and other EU member states about France's motives in promoting the ESDP, and to reduce the resistance of further progress of the ESDP.