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How can a causal relationship be established within the following elusive trio – defense, identity and Europe? In order to answer this question we must address to which extent does the construction of a European common defense is the motor or catalyst to a European identity. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the conditions that lead to the formation of identity and to apply them to the notion of defense. It is then possible to try to determine the cognitive and sociohistorical conditions according to which the conceptualization of defense does correspond to the conceptualization of identity, and as a result how it could contribute to the genesis of a European identity.