Some EU states skilfully use networks to bargain for recruits, Marina Henke writes in Security Studies.
Certain pivotal states in the European Union make strategic use of their social and institutional ties to negotiate reluctant member states into sending troops on EU peacekeeping missions, writes Hertie School Professor of International Relations Marina Henke in a new article published in the September issue of Security Studies. This means EU operations are not necessarily dependent on the convergence of preferences among member states—as is often suggested in the existing literature, Henke writes.
“Networked Cooperation: How the European Union Mobilizes Peacekeeping Forces to Project Power Abroad” examines how the EU recruits troops and police to serve in peacekeeping missions. It suggests that certain countries and EU officials are highly pro-active in using their networks to bargain reluctant states into providing forces. These networks offer information on deployment preferences, facilitate side-payments and issue-linkages, and provide for credible commitments.
Read the full article in Security Studies.
More about Marina Henke
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Marina Henke, Professor of International Relations | Director, Centre for International Security