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This article questions the dynamics of the differentiated integration of European defence through France’s historic decision to leave the negotiations on the construction of a European fighter jet in favour of the acquisition of the Rafale ‘Made in France’ aircraft. This choice is not only due to the lobbying work of Dassault Aviation and Snecma, as the liberal and neo-institutionalist arguments assert, but also to the effect of state actors. This research required 89 semi-directive interviews with French arms elites and is part of the development of a socio-historical approach to European politics through the Eliasian concept of ‘configuration’.