The document discusses the changing role of NATO after the Cold War. It begins by providing background on the Cold War and formation of NATO as a defensive alliance against Soviet expansion in Europe. With the fall of the Soviet Union, NATO took on new crisis management and peacekeeping roles in the Balkans in the 1990s. More recently, NATO has contributed to counterterrorism efforts beyond Europe, such as leading the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. The document examines how NATO has adapted to evolving security threats in the post-Cold War era.
Harvard style term paper what is the role of nato post-cold war
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Role of NATO post-Cold War.
Introduction
Cold war is a conflict that existed between the communist nations (Russia, china and
North Korea) basically led by the Soviet Union and the western democratic nations that were led
by the United States. Cold presumably begun as early as in 1947 when president of United Sates
Truman decaled an anti-communist policy leading to the onset of a cold with between Soviet
Union and United States. Cold war is fought in all places using all means available like using
economic war, propaganda, occasional military clashes and diplomatic haggling. In addition to
that fighting of cold war is done in all places i.e. in newly independent nations in Asia, Africa, in
neutral states and even in outer space (Paquette, 2001).
Cold War
Cold war was caused by the intensification of deep rooted ideological, political and
economic differences that existed between the society union and United States before the Second
World War. Such intensification is often attributed to increasing mutual suspicion especially
after the Second World War. Some of these undying ideological causes include the fact that the
two countries has opposing systems of government where United states government involves
election of government by free elections with its people being free to form political parties to use
to voice their opinions with rights to assembly, of speech as well as of the press whereas the
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government system of the soviet union was formed by communist party where people don’t have
any right to form political parties and that they do not enjoy rights to assembly, of speech and
press thus the two systems of government were in no way possible able to compromise between
each other (Rozoff, 2010).
The underlying economic issues between the opposing countries is that united states
preferred a free trade through out the world but soviet union wanted to guard her sphere from
what it believed to be increased exposure to international commerce would influence the
county’s system of government thus eroding the totalitarian regime hence the much ill felling
between the countries. In addition to that the underlying political cause of cold war is the power
rivalry especially after the Second World War which led to decline of the Europe facilitating the
two countries to share the power which each party wanted to dominate thus the inevitable
conflicts.
Immediate case of cold war started at peace time conferences and intensified after the
United States president declared the Truman doctrine and launched the Marshal plan of 1947.
Prior to the end of world war Russia gradually extended it’s influence to eastern Europe
including Poland and eastern Germany and by the end of war Soviet Union had consolidated her
control in the region and started influencing post war elections through intimidation of voters
leading to formation of coalition governments mostly consisting of communists.
Initially United States was optimistic that the there could be cooperation with Soviet
Union but from 1945 onwards that perception changed as the united sates government started
favoring a policy of strong resistance against Russian and its communist policy and this was
triggered when the president Roosevelt died in 1945 and succeeded by Truman a man who
advocated for a strong resistance against the Russian expansion because he believed that Russia
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will extend its influence to western Europe and that it was not going to form democratic
governments in areas under its influence. Finally Truman was disgusted at the way Russia was
not cooperative especially at Potsdam conference regarding the way Germany was supporting
Greece and Italy and hence blocked Truman’s internalization bid for principal waterways.
Such circumstances deteriorated relations between the Soviet union and united states and
land lease was abruptly interrupted but united states also ignored the Russian request for
economic aid intended for post wars reconstruction and the increasing conflict between the east
and west countries was evident in 1946 Churchill’s ‘iron wall’ speech when he said that ‘"From
Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent
.... Behind that line lie all the capitals of the central and eastern Europe - all are subject in one
form or another not only to Soviet influence but also to a very high and increasing control from
Moscow." The speech highlighted the increasing suspicion of soviets aggressive design in
Eastern Europe and the continuing conflict between the western democratic and the eastern
communist countries (Schultz, 2010).
In 1947 president Truman enunciated the Truman doctrine which its essence was that the
United sates was to support free people wiling to resist attempted subjugation by outside pressure
or armed minorities which was an anticommunist doctrine. The enunciation amounted to
America declaring war against communistic Russia consequently followed by massive military
and economic assistance to both Greece and turkey where the influence by communism was
high. Another offer by United States to aid was financial aid to European countries for support
and reconstruction after the war an offer which Russia declined. The applicants for Marshal Aid
was required to disclose its economic records to the American government an action which
Russia saw as an interference of internal affairs of other states and that could expose Russia to
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American influence. By 1949 Russia forbade its satellite countries from accepting the Marshall
aid and offered a counter –Marshall Plan which offered financial aid to her satellites under
Molotov plan. Proclamation of the Truman doctrine and launching of Marshall Plan meant that
United States was an official leader of western countries against the Russian communist
expansions in Europe and that signaled the beginning of cold war. The cold war resulted to
several events like the return of parliamentary democracy in the west, the increased soviet
control of Western Europe, and Berlin crisis which was considered as the climax of conflict that
existed between the east and west Europe (Kaplan, 1999).
The Berlin crisis led to Western Europe to face with humanitarian problems which saw
the western countries unite and airlift supplies to the starving East Germany civilians and that
showed a combined effort and greater determination to resist the Russian communism from
spreading further. In the mean time the United states formed what was anticommunist military
alliance with the allied western nations forming the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
in 1949 which made Stalin to admit that he couldn’t force a withdrawal of western nations thus
forced to admit to defeat and lifted the Berlin blockade. The alliance involved twelve nations
which believed that the Russian communism with its anti-democratic ideologies threatened the
democratic and thus stated that an attack on the alliance meant an attack on the entire alliance
which was to be responded with anything possible including armed retaliation. Such alliance was
to offer security for the other Atlantic states and was to be valid for twenty years. The alliance
pulled western countries into American leadership and its head quarters was known as Supreme
Headquarters of Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE) and was based in Paris. Another important
organization of NATO was permanent Council established in 1952 (Kaplan, (2004).
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North Atlantic treaty Organization was essentially a defensive organization to prevent the
spread of communist aggression as well as a successful strategy directed towards European and
transatlantic cooperation. Formation of NATO led to lifting of the Berlin blockade by Soviet
Union resulting to halted advancement of the communism in Europe. The formation of the
alliance led to many other efforts in cooperation amongst the western European countries. The
permanent council of the organization was composed of representatives from all member states
and it was the decision making organ which was done unanimously on agreement. The council
was tasked with many functions including military, cultural and economic cooperation among
the member states. To promote its efficiency several committees such as the economic and
financial committee as well as the defense and military committees and planning boards were set
up. The most important role of the council was that of military affairs consisting of the chief of
staff from France, Britain and the United States. Occurrence of the Korean War promoted
western power to anxiety to strengthening own defenses through an alliance and unity resulting
to an attempt by western nations to form integrated forces in Europe.
Formation of NATO meant that United states was therefore committed to a military
alliance in peace time and that was the first incidence in her enter history thus from the formation
of the alliance in 1949 ,United states for the following twenty year could witness a large
number of American troops being stationed in western Europe and that her allies would at any
point time call for assistance from the American military and such commitment marked an end to
the isolationistic policy which united sates had always upheld.
In addition to that effect formation of NATO alliance resulted to formation of Warsaw
Pact by Russia incorporating its communist allies or satellites. After the confrontation at the
Berlin wall in 1948-49 coupled with the formation of NATO signaled that cold war was to
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continue and Russia therefore following the successful communist victory in Indo-China formed
the War saw Pact with its satellites and the Pact spoke of defense and peaceful intentions
precluding its members to participate in any other alliance or coalition but assured them of
immediate assistance that included armed force incase of an event of armed aggression against
them is done. The alliance therefore provided military assistance with Russian supreme
commander appointed as a leader of the combined forces of its member states. Further more a
political understanding of its members was fostered by the formation of the consultative
committee. The war saw pact served to allow Russia to station its troops in parts of eastern
European countries meaning that an attack on Western Europe was imminent at any moment thus
was able to suppress signs of rebellion in her satellite countries. Another significant role of the
Pact was that it prompted the two conflicting super powers to organize their satellites into
alliances that opposed each other leading to a continued political tension between the west and
east countries.
Since its establishment NATO’s fundamental roles bestowed upon the allied forces was
to guarantee security as well as territorial integrity of its member states and this was attained
through deterrence and collective defense. That role still remain fundamental but resulting from
an end to the cold war between United states and Russia due to the fall of Berlin wall in 1989
and the dissolution of soviet union on 1991, the roles and the organization of NATO’s force have
gone through some major changes that has made it adapt to evolving security environments
while at same time promoting military cooperation in the partner countries. Euro-Atlantic
security has since then become complex coupled with emerging challenges especially from states
that are outside Europe and such countries include failed states which has led to proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction including its delivery and spread of terrorism. This changing
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security environment and changing roles by NATO is evident in 1990’s when ethnic conflict
erupted in Balkans leading to deployment of NATO forces to play peace support and crisis
management roles in the affected region.
More recently NATO forces have been contributing to the defense against acts of
terrorism and wider participation in the peace support missions which takes NATO beyond the
Euro-Atlantic area an act never done in the past. This is clear considering the aftermath of
September 2001 terrorist attacks on United States an act that has led to subsequent operations in
Afghanistan as a means of rooting out of Al-Qaeda a terror group responsible for the attacks.
Such security threats has growth concerns regarding threats from terrorism ,failed states as well
as the continued spread of weapons of mass destruction.
NATO’s role in crisis management is and peace support increased in mid 1990’s when its
forces were called upon and became involved in the Bosnian war which took place between 1992
and 1995. NATO’s forces supported the United Nations by helping in monitoring and
enforcement of the United Nations sanctions in the Adriatic together with the no –fly zone over
the sate of Bosnia and Herzegovina thus providing close air support to the ISAF Protection
forces stationed on the ground. NATO’s forces played an important role when they launched air
strikes in1995 to lift the siege over Sarajevo thus helping to shift the balance of powers securing
peaceful agreements ending the war. Consequently NATO forces has subsequently deployed a
United Nations mandated, multination force responsible for implementing the military aspects of
peace agreement which was done in 1995 (Powaski,1994).
Another role that NATO ha played post the cold war era is the roles of crisis management
conducted in the spring of 1999 when the allies launched air operation against the regime in
Yugoslav forcing it to complying with the international demands to ending the ethnic and
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political repression in the province of Kosovo. Large number of NATO-led multination forces
was then sent to help in restoration of stability. In 2001, in cooperation with new democratic
government of Yugoslav NATO allied forces engaged in crisis prevention roles in southern
Serbia consisting of a large population of Albanian ethic population. Moreover towards the end
of same year NATO was also involved in collaboration with the European Union in some
preventive diplomacy that were significant in preventing an outbreak of a civil war in republic of
Macedonia a former state of Yugoslav through negotiations on peace plan which was coupled
with a peaceful disarming of the rebels and provision of security for the international observes
efforts that consequently restoring stability to the troubled state (Beer, 1969).
Following the end of the cold war era NATO forces got involved in the Balkan
operations which gave them a lot of experience allowing them to building a great deal of
essential techniques regarding peace support and management of crises operations. This has
made NATO force to be an invaluable asset when it concerns today’s security environment and
after the September 11 attacks the allied forces has played an increasing roles in contributing to
the building of security in zones marred with instability and are found beyond its traditional
euro-Atlantic area.
NATO allied forces has played a vital role in Afghanistan where the alliance in 2003
agreed to take the command of the International security assistance force(ISAF) to try and help
the failed sates often plagued by both civil war and as a haven for terrorist groups. NATO prior
to the take over had played significant roles in planning in support of sate allies which previously
took leading roles in ISAF and therefore enhanced NATO to continue to be dynamic ensuring a
continuous operations while not having to find new nations after every six months to be
responsible in leading the mission. therefore NATO personnel operates under the banner of
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ISAF as they continue to work with in the United nations mandate which underwent some
expansion to allow operations to be conducted even in areas beyond Kabul (Sandler, & Hartley,
1999).
The engagement of NATO allied forces in Afghanistan was the first ever allied mission
that was beyond the Euro-Atlantic area and this therefore reflected the decision taken by the
allied foreign minister in 2002 in Reykjavik seminar where it was decide upon that NATO
should be able to field forces able to move quickly to areas they are needed with sustained
operations over distance and time. Following the Unite states led intervention to ousting Saddam
Hussein’s regime NATO supported the polish-led multinational division based in central Iraq in
force generation, communications, logistics and intelligence and the organization is even
prepared to offering similar support to allies that request and this implies the changing roles that
NATO allied forces are playing after the cold war era.
Finally, after the September 11 security environment has seen use of sea power to curb
the merging threats and since the year 2001 NATO ships under the operation Active Endeavour,
have been engaged in the patrolling of eastern Mediterranean particularly focusing in monitoring
of shipping to help in detecting and deterrence of terrorist’s activities. Their roles have even been
extended to include escorts of nonmilitary shipping upon request. In addition to that the forces
are also tasked to boarding suspect ships. A part from helping deter terrorism NATO naval
operations has improved levels of security and stability in the Mediterranean region thus
benefiting both to trade as well as economic activities (Stephen, & Brinkley, 1997).
Conclusion
NATO was initially formed to help the western countries to prevent the spread of
communistic influence of the soviet union and succeed in doing so but after the end of the cold
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war era the organization has undergone dynamic and complex challenges that has seen it take
other more current engagement in issues of security that has made its operations extend beyond
the Euro-Atlantic region. The organization has involved itself more with crisis management and
peace support roles in failed states, participated in deterrence of spread of weapons of mass
destruction, and more over in countering the acts of terrorism which threatens the current
security of the world. Therefore the roles played by NATO have been made global.
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List of References
Beer, F. A. (1969). Integration and Disintegration in NATO: Processes of Alliance Cohesion
and Prospects for Atlantic Community. Columbus: Ohio State University Press
Kaplan, L. S. (2004). NATO Divided, NATO United: The Evolution of an Alliance. New Delhi:
Praeger
Kaplan, L. S. (1999).The Long Entanglement: NATO's First Fifty Years. New Delhi: Praeger
Matthias, S. (9, April 2010). New Research Sheds Light on Soviet Plans for World War III. New
York: Spiegel Online
Paquette, L. (2001). NATO and Eastern Europe after 2000. New York: Nova Science
Powaski, R. E. (1994). The Entangling Alliance: The United States and European Security,
1950–1993. California: Greenwood Publishing Group
Rick, R. (11 February, 2010). NATO’s Role in the Military Encirclement of Iran. Global
Research
Rick R. (16, March, 16, 2010). US-NATO Strategic Concept: Global Warfare. Global Research
Sandler, T. & Hartley, K. (1999). The Political Economy of NATO: Past, Present, and into the
21st Century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Stephen E. A. & Douglas G. B. (1997). Rise to Globalism: American Foreign Policy Since. New
Delhi: Penguin Books