Security and Defence in the World-system Semi-periphery: The Cases of Italy and Portugal

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Security and Defence in the World-system Semi-periphery: The Cases of Italy and Portugal

The security and defence policies of EU states results from the combination of a national agenda, and EU strategy. The latter is an outcome of the negotiation within the intergovernmental framework, so that Security and Defence Policy of the EU as an actor is relevant, as well of its member States individually. As the security and defence’ agenda is not apart from the integration process, the problems stemming from this process have to be considered under a framework that, taking into account the different countries’ economic and geopolitical influences, such asymmetry must be considered also as an important element influencing the states’ security policy. According to Wallerstein’s idea on the relation between core and semi-peripheral States, we look at EU’s integration process as one deeply marked by this asymmetry. Drawing on the combination of both abovementioned perspectives, we propose a comparative analysis between the strategic concept of Italy and Portugal, looking for common features linked with their semi-peripheral position within the EU. Undertaking an analysis that takes mainly into account primary sources, conclusions seem to indicate that this asymmetry defines the strategic concepts of the member States of EU, which are compressed in between their agenda and the negotiation of their foreign policy within the EU framework from an unfavourable position.


Franco Tomassonitomassoni.franco@gmail.com

Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa

PhD Fellow in Global Studies, Department of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities – New University of Lisbon. MA in Political Science and International Relations by the same institution. BA in Anthropology by the University of Bologna.

Pedro Ponte e Sousapedrosousa_pps@hotmail.com

Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa

PhD Fellow in Global Studies, Department of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities – New University of Lisbon. MA in History, International Relations and Cooperation by the University of Porto, BA in Languages and International Relations by the same institution. Research interests: Portuguese foreign policy; foreign policy analysis; small states; diplomacy.