How Does the Future of the NATO Look Like in the New Century?

Term Paper , 2008 , 9 Pages , Grade: 1,0

Politics - Topic: International Organisations

After the end of the Soviet Communism, the NATO was described by
many experts as a dying institution. Kenneth Waltz, an American
political scientist judged the NATO in 1990 as a “disappearing thing”
and he forecasted, that it’s only a question of time until this institution
will become insignificant.1 The big common enemy was missing and the
probability of a new rising threat for western civilization was about zero.
The need of article V, including its security guarantees seemed to be
useless and therewith the “raison d’être” of the biggest multilateral
intergovernmental security community was lost. Critics see the NATO
as a relic from the Cold War and suspect the United States of America
to utilize this institution in order to enlarge and intensify their worldwide
sphere of influence.2 The only fait accompli is the fact that NATO has
changed. To underline this statement General Secretary Robertson was
wearing a t-shirt, with the slogan “This ain’t your daddy’s NATO”, at the
NATO summit 2003 in Colorado Springs.3 The question accrues what
the NATO exactly is in our days and if the changes made, since 1990
are significant enough to guarantee the survival of the biggest
multilateral military alliance? The following essay analyzes what the
NATO is and investigates the different future scenarios of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Definition NATO
• Analyze of the modern NATO
• Actual threats and new functions
• Five scenarios on the future
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay aims to analyze the current state and future prospects of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the 21st century. It examines the evolution of NATO since the end of the Cold War, considering its changing role and the challenges it faces in a new geopolitical landscape.

• The changing nature of threats to Western security
• The evolution of NATO's role and functions
• The impact of the Iraq War on NATO's unity and effectiveness
• The future of NATO's transatlantic partnership
• The potential for NATO expansion and its implications

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction sets the stage by highlighting the skepticism surrounding NATO's future after the Cold War. It argues that while the organization has undergone significant transformations, its relevance and effectiveness remain open to debate.

The chapter on the definition of NATO explores the core elements of the alliance, including its military command structure, security guarantees, and shared democratic values. It examines how these elements have evolved over time and whether they remain relevant in the contemporary context.

The chapter on the analysis of the modern NATO delves into the organization's current structure, membership, and operational capabilities. It examines the challenges posed by the changing security environment and the need for NATO to adapt its strategies and priorities.

The chapter on actual threats and new functions explores the range of threats that NATO faces in the 21st century, including terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and regional conflicts. It examines how these threats have shaped NATO's evolving role and functions, including its involvement in peacekeeping operations, crisis management, and arms control.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key words and focus themes of the text include NATO, security, transatlantic relations, threats, terrorism, proliferation, peacekeeping, crisis management, and the future of the alliance. The essay examines the evolution of NATO in the post-Cold War era, analyzing its changing role and the challenges it faces in a new geopolitical landscape.

• College: University of Wroclaw
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Jenny Werner (Author)
• Publication Year: 2008
• Pages: 9
• Catalog Number: V130976
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640402182
• ISBN (Book): 9783640402526
• Language: English
• Tags: Does, Future, NATO, Look, Like, Century