European Arms Export Policies and Democratic Accountability

Containing case-studies from the UK, Germany, and Sweden, this is a major study on the impat of Europeanization on the transparency of arms export policy, and the role of parliaments in this policy area.

Arms export policies have traditionally been enshrined in national decision making and have been subjected to a high degree of secrecy. While the laws and regulations governing arms exports remain national, arms export policies are increasingly driven and shaped by European factors. The discussion and coordination of such policies within the European Union are increasingly being accepted and institutionalized, and they have become more transparent. This book examines the characteristics and dynamics of both phenomena and analyses the impact of Europeanization and the transparency of arms export policy on the role of parliaments in this policy area. The book includes case studies of Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.