Transformation of the Cognitive Script of Latvia’s Defence Sector on the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union (2004–2020). Summary of the Doctoral Thesis
Authors:   ,   Rīga Stradiņš University, Bodnieks Valērijs 
Published: April 2022

The aim of the doctoral thesis “Transformation of the Cognitive Script of Latvia’s Defence Sector on the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union (2004–2020)” is to investigate the transformation of the institutional cognitive script of the Latvian defence sector on the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union (CSDP) in the period from 2004 to 2020. Latvia’s defence sector is selected as the central element of the thesis. The sector in Latvia as elserwhere, has a specific military culture. Defence institutions are like a small societies, different from the general population and other institutions. It is relatively isolated and espouses aspects of both civilian and military organizational aspects. The cognitive script of the Latvian defence sector as such, as well on the CSDP has not been studied so far. A cognitive script is a sequential scheme, a sequence of actions. Norms and values through repetition become an unconscious cognitive script. By repeating am action, actors internalize norms and follow a certain cognitive script. The thesis presents three hypotheses: 1) The convergence of the institutional cognitive script of the Latvia's defence sector with the CSDP began after the Lisbon Treaty had come into force; 2) The highest officials of the Ministry of Defence have played the decisive role in the convergence of the cognitive scripts of the Latvia’s defence sector with the CSDP; 3) The convergence of the institutional cognitive script of Latvia’s defence sector with the CSDP was promoted by the maturity of thinking of Ministry of Defence and the Russian military aggression in Ukraine. The first hypothesis was partially confirmed. Within the framework of CSDP, Latvia gained momentum after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. Based on the policy planning documents before the implementation of the CSDP, it Latvia did not intend to take advantage of the new opportunities provided by CSDP. Latvia did not have sufficient resources for this direction and the policy itself was not taken seriously. The convergence of Latvia's thinking with the CSDP took place after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty as the CSDP was introduced at that time based on the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). The second hypothesis was also confirmed. During the period of analysis, the highest officials of the MoD have operated within a certain framework of rules and practices. Position on the CSDP has been stable and successive. Until the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, views of Latvia's highest ranking officials on the military aspect of the EU were more sceptical. After 2010, the thinking pattern towards CSDP became more stable and more flexible, as well as in line with the principle of inertia. The role of certain highest officials has been particularly significant in the convergence of the Latvian defence institutional cognitive script with the CSDP. Finally, also the third hypothesis was confirmed. The experience of Latvia's involvement in the EU security and defence mechanisms developed gradually. It took some time to reach an institutional maturity. The approximate period is ten years since Latvia's accession to the EU. This is reflected in the gradual development of Latvia's defence policy. It is also about the adjustment of the highest ranking officials and institutions in line with the trends that were particularly affected in the framework of the CSDP by Russia's aggression in Ukraine back in 2014, as well as the discussions on CSDP intensified; also while the EU Global Strategy was adopted in 2016, the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) was signed in 2017 and the European Defence Fund (EDF) established the same year.