ABSTRACT

This book offers the first systematic, comparative analysis of military education and training in Europe within the context of the post-Cold War security environment.

Based on an analysis of military education institutions in the UK, Germany, Finland, Romania and the Baltic States, this book demonstrates that the convergence of European military cultures since the end of the Cold War is linked to changes in military education. The process of convergence originates, at least in part, from the full or partial adoption of a new concept by post-commissioning professional military education institutions: the National Defence University. Officers are now educated alongside civilians and public servants, wherein they enjoy a socialization experience that is markedly different from that of previous generations of European officers, and is increasingly similar across national borders. In addition, this book argues that with the control over the curricula and graduation criteria increasingly set by civilian higher education authorities, the European armed forces, while continuing to exist, and hold significant (although declining) capabilities, stand to lose their status as a profession in the traditional sense.

This book will be of much interest to students of military, European security policy, European politics, and IR in general.

chapter 1|28 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|28 pages

New wine in new bottles

British military education in the post-Cold War era

chapter 3|27 pages

A conservative military education college in post-heroic society

The Federal Armed Forces Command and General Staff Academy (Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr) 1

chapter 4|26 pages

Northern exposure

The emergence of the Finnish National Defence University

chapter 5|26 pages

Westernisation through education

The “Carol 1” National Defence University and the reconstruction of the Romanian officer corps

chapter 6|31 pages

Constructing regional strategic culture

The Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL)

chapter 7|41 pages

Comparing professional military education

Drivers and agents of change

chapter 8|10 pages

Conclusions

The end of the European military profession and beyond