Military Erasmus: Transnationalisation of Professional Community of the Top Military Leaders in Europe

This article examines the transnational dimension of military leadership by analysing the international professional experience of Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) from 79 countries. In contrast to traditional realist views of defence policy as a sovereign state matter, the study investigates how CHODs' exposure to international military education, operational deployments, and multinational HQs shapes transnational relationships. The paper proposes a typology of transnational military leadership and employs social network analysis (SNA) to explore connections between transnational leadership and a nation's global position. Findings reveal correlations between transnationalization and factors such as a state's power, international cooperation, and alliance participation. The study contributes to understanding evolving military roles in an interconnected world, particularly highlighting the significance of transnationalization in European military elites. The dataset offers a valuable resource for further investigations into integration processes.