Abstract
Strategic communication (StratCom) is established as one of the key functions and interests of contemporary organisations and governments. The usefulness and importance of strategic communication becomes even more essential when the organisation is defence and security-focused or involved in crisis management. The objective of this study was to assess the strategic communication practices, and inherent challenges of communicating Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and present relevant reflections. A documentary analysis of the relevant EU websites and social media pages of 16 CSDP missions and operations was conducted. This was supplemented with eight key-informant interviews with Press and Public Information Officers (PPIOs) of CSDP and EU strategists.
 
 The research demonstrated that most CSDP missions and operations are present on most social media platforms but they often garner very small number of likes, comments, shares, replies or interactions from their targeted audiences. Features of an echo-chamber are also observed. The study also found that public affairs (information) and public diplomacy were the two main forms of strategic communication that the CSDP utilises. CSDP’s strategic communication also tends to take a one-way StratCom process. The challenges faced in terms of StratCom by CSDP are not uniform; they are contextual ranging from resource, translation to mismatch of expectations. The major challenge, however, emanates from the structural problems of CSDP or the EU itself that are beyond the European External Action Service (EEAS) or the relevant Press and Public Information Offices (PPIOs). The study recommendations include quicker EU level political and policy compromise on CSDP, training and resource improvements for StratCom, ‘storytelling and use of real people’, highlighting gender, rights and local ownership, increasing the link with the international media and regular and appropriate self-appraisals.
Highlights
Security and defence are crucial elements of peacebuilding in this highly interconnected and inter-dependent world
The parent account/the channel of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) channel is known as the European External Action Service (EEAS), which created the “EUSecurityandDefence”
A search for the “Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)” on Google News resulted in 42 Google News pages or 1,020 results in 0.16 seconds
Summary
Security and defence are crucial elements of peacebuilding in this highly interconnected and inter-dependent world. As well as increasing number of developing countries, have started to show relative peace and stability, several countries around the world are still embroiled in internal and inter-state conflicts and crises. Despite the efforts of several inter-continental, regional and international security and peacebuilding institutions and blocs, the conflicts and crises have not been fully prevented, contained or resolved. One amongst these blocks is the European Union (EU’s) Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The CSDP’s international operations and missions in third countries have achieved recognisable changes within the crisis locations they have been deployed to. According to the CSDP’s 2016 Annual Report, in that year alone, it conducted a major training and capacity building programme, mentoring and prosecutions as well as facilitation of dialogue and agreements, saved over 20,000 lives (especially in the Mediterranean), helped in the reduction of piracy, and supported capacity building and policy formulations
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