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Lefebvre

Thomas Lefebvre, PhD Student (BA Reims Champagne Ardennes, MA Ulster)
tlefebvre01@qub.ac.uk

Thesis
Small States and the Common Foreign and Security Policy: Shaping and Regrouping?

The evolution of the CFSP raises some key questions regarding states sovereignty and independence. Looking at the foreign policies of national states is therefore crucial; indeed, it is widely said that foreign and security policies remain the last bastions of state sovereignty. The evolution of the CFSP raises some questions about the capabilities of small states to have an influence in the evolution in the process of building the CFSP. However, participation in the CFSP has also impacted on national foreign policies. I will then observe the interactive process between small states and the institutions. This PhD will try to determine whether or not there are common patterns, agendas and strategies among small states. So as to answer these questions, I will look closely at three case studies: Ireland, Belgium and Sweden. Ireland was chosen for its non-aligned policy as well as being an enthusiastic supporter of the European Construction, Sweden was also chosen for its non-aligned policy as well as being a strong promoter of soft security and Belgium for being an advocate of strengthening the CFSP.

This work will be a comparative empirical investigation of these national foreign policies. The conceptual framework will have to integrate development of the CFSP and its impacts – Europeanisation – on small states as well as the capabilities from small states to influence and shape institutions. This PhD will use a wide range of sources as well as interviews with high ranking actors of the past decades who were involved in this topic.

Areas of Research

Small states studies, Europeanisation, Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

Supervisors:  Dr David Phinnemore and Dr Ralph Dietl