Organized around themes of cultural realism and social constructivism, Monica Gariup develops a theoretical framework to enhance our understanding of security culture at the European Union (EU) level.Using tools from political theory, linguistic analysis, and international relations theory, this book's innovative approach examines the implications of discourse and practice in the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). Furthermore, it argues that by elaborating a structurationist solution and proposing a discursive syntax of security it is possible to identify and compare different types of security actors.This book provides a comprehensive and objective analysis on the links and implications between the discourse and actual policy of the ESDP. It is an essential reading to scholars and researchers in European politics, International relations, Security and Cultural Studies.