NATO and European Defense Policy 2100-ERASMUS-NEDP

This course provides an in-depth analysis of the institutional dynamics and geopolitical forces shaping contemporary European security. It centers on the intricate and often paradoxical relationship between NATO, the primary collective defense organization, and the European Union, an actor striving for greater security and defense capabilities. The seminar moves beyond abstract theory to ground its investigation in real-world developments from 2014-2026, including Russia's annexation of Crimea, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, NATO's subsequent return to its core defense mandate, and the EU's accelerated initiatives like PESCO and the Strategic Compass.

The curriculum is structured to first establish a historical foundation, exploring how NATO survived the end of the Cold War through adaptation to crisis management and how the EU developed its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). It then delves into the core NATO-EU conundrum, examining areas of both complementarity and friction. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to analyzing the impact of key member states whose national visions critically shape the alliance and union: the United States and debates over its "pivot to Asia"; France and its advocacy for European strategic autonomy; and Turkey as a complex and often disruptive ally.

The final part of the course applies these institutional and national frameworks to pressing regional security challenges. This includes a critical assessment of the NATO and EU response to the war in Ukraine and the security dilemmas of Eastern Partnership countries like Moldova and Georgia. It also explores emerging frontiers like the Arctic, using the hypothetical Greenland crisis as a case study to examine transatlantic solidarity and sovereignty issues. Throughout, students will engage with key strategic documents (NATO's Strategic Concept, the EU's Strategic Compass) and participate through presentations and debates to critically evaluate themes such as burden-sharing, deterrence credibility, the meaning of strategic autonomy, and the future contours of the European security architecture in an era of renewed great-power competition.

Week Topic Activities

Block 1: Basics and evolution

Session 1: Introduction & NATO's post-Cold War survival. Overview & evolution of European security. Student presentation: ‘Why and how did NATO survive the end of the Cold War?’

Session 2: NATO: from collective defence to crisis management. Analyzing the Alliance's transformation. Examines the shift from Article 5 focus to out-of-area operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan.

Session 3: The EU as a security actor. Evolution from Maastricht to CSDP. Student presentation: ‘What kind of security actor has the EU become?’ Covers CFSP, Saint-Malo, and the development of civilian/military missions.

Block 2: Relations and concepts

Session 4: The NATO-EU conundrum: rivals or partners? Mutual support & competition. Student presentation: ‘How can NATO and the EU mutually support each other?’ Focus on the "3Ds" (No duplication, No decoupling, No discrimination) and practical cooperation areas.

Session 5: EU defence & strategic autonomy. New momentum and the autonomy debate. Student presentation: ‘Can the EU be strategically autonomous? Should it?’ Analyses PESCO, the EDF, the Strategic Compass, and transatlantic tensions.

Session 6: War in Europe & NATO's return to core defence (2014-2024). Covers the 2014 turning point, the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the new NATO Force Model, and the refocus on collective defence and deterrence.

Block 3: Players and challenges

Session 7: France – between NATO & a European army. French vision for European defence. Explores France's historical stance, advocacy for strategic autonomy, and its dual role as a key NATO ally and EU defence leader.

Session 8: The future transatlantic link: the US pivot to Asia. Strategic implications. Student presentation: ‘How will the US pivot to the Indo-Pacific shape the respective role of NATO and the EU in European security?’ Analyses US force posture debates and the challenge of "strategic simultaneity".

Session 9: Turkey: NATO's complex ally. Challenges and benefits. Examines Turkey's strategic value, internal political dynamics, and points of friction (S-400, Syria, Eastern Mediterranean) within the Alliance.

Session 10: The Eastern Flank - NATO's future? Analyses the enhanced Forward Presence, the security of the Baltic states and Poland, and the concept of "forward defence" as a core NATO mission post-2022.

Session 11: Arctic security & the Greenland crisis. A transatlantic test. Uses the case study of Greenland to examine competing sovereignties (US, DK, EU), NATO's role in the High North, and the geopolitics of climate change and resources.

Block 4: Geopolitics and summary

Session 12: NATO as the guarantor? The cases of Ukraine, Moldova & Georgia. Security on the eastern flank. Student presentation: ‘Have NATO and the EU succeeded in their response to Russia’s aggression of Ukraine?’ Compares the different institutional approaches and future membership prospects for these three associated states.

Session 13: Course conclusion: The Future of NATO–EU Relations. Summary debate on competing futures: reinforced transatlantic bond vs. European autonomy vs. fragmented security. Synthesizes key themes from the course.