Military Reform: An Uneven History and an Uncertain Future : Naval War College , 2010
2010
Naval War College
From the report, “Atlantic alliance. Early alliances seemed designed to be transitory. There was no need for cooperation, integration, preparation, or even friendship among Bismarckian-era allies in a multipolar world. Offensive wars were fought for territory and treasure. However, this situation was turned on its head when two superpowers developed alliance systems in an ideological struggle where contesting armies had thermonuclear weapons and needed to be ready to fight for national survival on a moment’s notice. Further, NATO’s members were liberal democracies empowered to take positions independent of the United States on any number of issues and were willing to air these differences in public. The author’s well-informed encapsulation of the six “fatal” crises that NATO has weathered over the years provides scholars and interested general readers insight, perspective, and juicy anecdotes. The author’s technique of laying out the problem in each case and following with “what actually happened” makes for a series of intriguing and illuminating vignettes in diplomatic history. Watching them unfold in real time, without the benefit of opened archives and clear hindsight, was not nearly as satisfying or rewarding.”
Authors - Sullivan, SeanSubjects
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