Brings together a number of prominent American and European policy-makers and analysts to examine the key issues involved in the "new political thinking" about Europe's security. The overall picture is optimistic, but events such as the Yugoslav civil war suggest perhaps a more dangerous future.

Tracing NATO's formative years, its Cold War development, and its post-Cold War evolution, Sean Kay draws on his policy experience in Brussels and Washington to provide unique insights into contemporary policy challenges, including NATO's outreach to the East and its Partnership for Peace, peacekeeping and the future of the Balkans, enlargement and the role of Russia in Europe, NATO's internal military adaptation, and the future of the transatlantic relationship. Kay argues that although NATO has evolved to some degree, it remains an institution dependent upon the United States with uncertain long-term prospects for playing a constructive role in Europe. Indeed, the author shows that if not implemented carefully, NATO enlargement may actually decrease rather than increase stability in the region.

Germany and the Future of European Security examines the impact of unification on German foreign and security policy, providing the first comprehensive analysis of how the unified Germany has adapted to the post-Cold War security environment. The book considers the development of Germany's understanding of the European security environment, Germany's national interests, its role in Europe and the international system and the policy instruments at its disposal. This provides a context for testing various views about the future of European security more generally.

Recent events in Afghanistan and Poland, as well as the Twenty-Sixth Party Congress, have raised questions about the future direction of the Warsaw Treaty Organization. Similarly, pressing issues such as the placement of long-range theater nuclear forces, burden sharing, and threats to the security of Europe from peripheral areas (for instance, the Middle East) call attention to the urgent need for a re-examination of priorities and strategies within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This book addresses these military considerations, as well as the political and social dimensions of European security. The distinguished authors discuss four major subjects--European security perspectives, NATO, the warsaw Pact, and resource allocations for defense--within the framework of comparative alliance approaches. Their detailed descriptions of current problems, diversities, and discussions within the two alliance systems offer insight into the differing ideas of what constitutes security.

The history, current state, and likely future of the European Union

The future of European foreign policy is of vital significance to the developing world order. The failure of US policy in Iraq has underscored the need for Europe to play a constructive global role. Nevertheless, divisions within Europe over the Iraq war and over the future development of the European Union have raised questions about the potential for an effective European foreign policy—whether organized through EU institutions or via individual member states. This book will consider why Europe should assume global responsibilities, how they will be organized institutionally, whether they will be adequate to address pressing regional and security concerns, and how they will reflect the foreign policy interests of Europe’s major powers. It is the intention of this book to cover both thematic and country-specific issues, ranging from Europe’s responsibility as a global actor and EU-NATO relations to the specific influence of Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. The contributors come from across the European Union and represent a mix of established and rising scholars. This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of European Integration.

This new Handbook brings together key experts on European security from the academic and policy worlds to examine the European Union (EU) as an international security actor. While the focus is on the politico-military dimension, security will be put in the context of the holistic approach advocated by the EU.

Notwithstanding the claims of some in the United States, European affairs continue to dominate U.S. foreign policy and strategic thinking. The end of the Cold War has not seen any blurring of the focus of U.S. officials on European affairs. Managing the implications of the break-up of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, the seemingly never-ending conflicts in the Balkans, increasing Western norms and institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, and expanding and reforming the North Atlantic Alliance are just some of the issues that require firm and consistent U.S. leadership. How the United States has, and should continue, to deal with these issues is the subject of this collective effort. In addition to assessing past and present challenges to U.S. and Western security interests and objectives in Europe, the authors also analyze the strategies and policies of the Department of Defense in this crucial region of the world. Recommendations for consideration by officials include the need for a lighter leadership touch in some areas and for stronger encouragement in others. However, let there be no doubt that a U.S. policy toward Europe of stasis or benign neglect should be rejected. The United States is a European power by virtue of its history, current commitments, and strategic and political exigencies. Finding the most efficacious means of achieving these national objectives, while working to effect a Europe whole and free, is the daunting long-term task to be faced.