The Common Good of Europe: The Role of British Intelligence Services in Shaping the Security and Defense of the Western European Union (1954 - 2010)

• Grant number: 24/15536-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: February 29, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Political Science - International Politics
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Luis Moreli Rocha
• Grantee: Paula Sposito Almeida
• Host Institution: Instituto de Relações Internacionais (IRI). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Throughout the 20th century, European national security intelligence agencies played pivotal, albeit sometimes controversial, roles in shaping national security strategies. These agencies, both governmental and non-governmental, served as crucial allies for governments during periods of crisis, threat, and opportunity. Following World War II, recognizing the need for enhanced mutual defence and security cooperation beyond national boundaries, Western European nations established the Western European Union (WEU) in 1954 as a framework for common security in Europe. This initiative marked a significant advancement in intelligence sharing, and security and defence collaboration among member states. The United Kingdom (UK), as one of the founding members of the WEU, played a crucial role, strongly supported by its national secret agencies. This research aims to explore the participation, contributions, and influence of the UK, through the lens of its secret services, in shaping a distinct culture of European defence and security until the WEU's deactivation in 2010. Beyond examining institutional and political histories, this study delves into intelligence studies, seeking to understand the relevance of its agencies in policymaking and European cooperation. It employs a serial analysis of official documents, political speeches, declassified secret documents, and the dissemination of specialised knowledge produced by British secret agencies and the WEU's organisation. This historical study of security and intelligence sharing in Western Europe from the mid-20th century to the 21st century aims to uncover how British influence, along with shared convictions, criteria, and values among involved actors, helped forge a certain European identity that justified and legitimised the later European Union foundation. This exploration seeks to provide insights into how intelligence and security practices contributed to the broader narrative of European integration and identity formation.