| Based on a communicative perspective, this article examines the theoretical possibility of a two-fold change in European security (in the referent object of security and in the understanding and practice of the best means of achieving security). The approach suggested should be considered supplementary to the rational choice perspective, and at the same time a contribution to a strengthening of the existing 'widening' literature on security. It is argued that the concepts of communicative rationality and deliberation can contribute to this in two ways: first, by establishing alternative and more precise micro foundations to those provided in the rational choice perspective; second, by providing a critical standard that allows us to escape the normative ambiguity in security studies. |