The Political and Economic Background

Abstract

The principal purpose of this book is to analyse where the West Europeans have succeeded or failed in their attempts at cooperation in defence procurement, and why. This chapter aims to give some political background to this analysis by looking, very selectively, at a few of the pressures which exist for West European collaboration in defence and security policy in general. Logically, the gradual convergence of national policies on defence and East-West relations ought to facilitate (although it would hardly guarantee) closer cooperation in arms procurement. In addition, experience has shown that the wider interests of West European countries in security cooperation have been major reasons why they have sought to collaborate on arms production. The history of the aborted Franco-German tank, of the European Fighter Aircraft and of other joint projects, particularly between France and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), which are discussed in this book, is evidence.

The contribution of Simon May is made in a purely personal capacity.