Europe, Small Navies and Maritime Security: Balancing Traditional Roles and Emergent Threats in the 21st Century

This book seeks to identify and address gaps in our understanding of maritime security and the role of small navies in Europe.

The majority of Europe’s navies are small, yet they are often called upon to address a complex array of traditional and non-traditional threats. This volume examines the role of small navies within the European security architecture, by discussing areas of commonality and difference between navies, and arguing that it is not possible to fully understand either maritime strategy or European security without taking into account the actions of small navies. It contains a number of case studies that provide an opportunity to explore how different European states view the current security environment and how naval policy has undergone significant changes within the lifetime of the existing naval assets. In addition, the book examines how maritime security and naval development in Europe might evolve, given that economic forecasts will likely limit the potential procurement of ‘larger’ naval assets in the future, which means that European states will increasingly have to do more with less in the maritime domain.

This book will be of much interest to students of maritime strategy, naval power, strategic studies, European politics and international relations in general.

Robert McCabe is an Assistant Professor and Course Director for the MA in Maritime Security at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University, UK.

Deborah Sanders is a Reader in Defence and Security Studies at the Defence Studies Department, King’s College London, UK.

Ian Speller is Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Military History and Strategic Studies at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.