Abstract
M.A.
The purpose of this essay is to focus attention on the future of Western
alliances, with primary emphasis on the roles of NATO and the WEU. In the
light of the collapse of the Soviet Union and absence of the threat of communist
domination, should NATO still exist? At a time when the European Union (EU)
states want to develop the WEU into a strong European defence arm, is NATO
still needed in Europe? Now that the world order has ushered in a unipolar world
with former foes having assumed co-operative relations, of what relevance are
military alliances? Does the alliance system contribute towards the enhancement
of better relations between states, notably NATO member states and the former
WTO states?
This essay will highlight the contradiction which the Alliance (NATO) represents
in a post-Cold War world. It probes what the absence of a rival to NATO or a
threat to European security can cause. It will also explore alternatives to alliance
formation. It seeks to clarify the logic of NATO's retention and its role in the
current context as a deterrent despite the absence of a clear threat. The Cold
War era resulted in situations of international tension indicating a battle for world
dominance between NATO and the WTO. Each alliance worked hard to
outsmart the other in terms of arms production, nuclear weapons, support for
liberation movements, influencing countries of the world politically and
economically. When the Soviet empire fell, there was euphoria in the West, with leaders
assuming that free markets and democratic politics would quickly set Russia on
the road to becoming a model of Western democracy. The belief was that
Russia would be a stable country which would not threaten Western interests, an
ally that agrees with the US on world and regional issues. The reality is that
Western expectations about Russia have not materialised. The country is
struggling economically, its government is not a stable one and it faces rampant
secessionist violence in for instance Chechnya. Due to the Soviet Union's
collapse, having been a union of fifteen republics, its heir became Russia. The
Russian economy is incomparably weaker than the Soviet Union economy ever
was and its military forces have lost ground to the West in recent years. The
country's state of affairs is such that the US and other Western governments are
unwilling to embrace it within NATO (Mead, 1994:1-4). The uncertain state of
affairs in Eastern and Central Europe, which is characterised by weak
economies and ethnic tension, makes the situation much more difficult for the
WEU, OSCE and NATO. The West would like to stay alert so as to keep the
situation in check in terms of being ready to respond to whatever crisis that might
erupt.
This essay is divided into four parts. The first part explores factors that influence
alliance formation and retention as well as circumstances that lead to their
collapse. The second part outlines the role NATO has played and is playing to
ensure Europe's security. It looks into such questions due to the need for the US
and Russia to work together within the United Nations (UN), the OSCE, and
other bodies especially as regards world peace and stability. The third part looks
into the Western European Union, its structure, function and the role it could
play in the security of Europe. It also discusses the role of the OSCE in Europe.
The final part revisits all the others and questions the continued existence of
military alliances in a post-Cold War era.