The Euro-Atlantic Security System in the 21st Century: From Cooperation to Crisis

ISBN-13: 9783030077280 / Angielski / Miękka / 2018 / 288 str.

Ryszard Zięba

Spis treści

Introduction

1. The Subject of the Euro-Atlantic Security System

2. The Neorealist Research Perspective

3. The Structure of the Book

Part I: Background

2 The Euro-Atlantic Security System in the 1990s

1. The Genesis of a New System

1.1. The Fall of Real Socialism and Political Transformation in East Bloc Countries

1.2. Dismantling of the Eastern Bloc

1.3. The Breakup of the USSR and the Emergence of the Commonwealth of Independent States

1.4. The Unification of Germany

1.5. Accelerating European Integration

1.6. From Military Confrontation to Arms Control

1.7. The Beginning of NATO’s Transformation

2. The Structure of the System

2.1. Participating States

2.2. International Institutions

2.3. Intersystem Ties

3. The System’s Functioning and Evolution

3 Changing Challenges and Threats for Euro-Atlantic Security in the 21st Century

1. Understanding the Challenges and Threats for International Security

1.1. Threats

1.2. Challenges

2. The Reconfiguration of the International Order

3. Terrorism

4. Military Threats

4.1. Nuclear Weapons and the Threat of Proliferation

4.2. Conventional Weapons

4.3. Military Spending

5. Other Threats and Challenges

5.1. Cyber Threats

5.2. Economic and Energy Threats

5.3. Environmental Threats

5.4. Migration Challenges

4 The Security Concepts of Participants in the Euro-Atlantic Security System

1. Identification of Threats and Challenges

1.1. Terrorism as a Main Threat

1.2. Changing Perceptions of Challenges and Threats

2. Security Policy Aims, Means, and Methods

3. Similarities and Differences between Security Concepts in the Light of International Relations Theory

Part II: The Functioning of the System: From Cooperation to Crisis

5 The Failure to Eliminate Terrorism

1. The American War on Terror

2. The Actions of the European Union with Respect to Combating Terrorism

3. Cooperation between the EU and the USA

4. NATO’s Cooperation with Russia

6 The West’s Dominance and Expansion and Russia’s Response

1. The Promotion of Democracy by the West

1.1. The Western Balkans

1.2. The Countries of the Former Soviet Union

2. Further NATO Expansion

3. Strengthening NATO’s Eastern Flank

7 The European Union in Crisis

1. Problems with the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe

2. New Regulations in the Treaty of Lisbon

3. Stagnation of the CSDP

3.1. The United Kingdom’s Growing Euro-skepticism

3.2. The Impact of the 2008 Financial Crisis on the CSDP

3.2.1. Cuts in Military Budgets

3.2.2. Limitations on Crisis Reaction Operations

4. Attempts to Revive the CSDP

4.1. The Idea of Creating a European Army

4.2. The Issue of the EU General Headquarters

4.3. New Efforts to Strengthen the CSDP

5. The Migration Crisis

6. Threats to the EU as an Integration Project

8 The Marginalization of the OSCE

1. The Achievements of the CSCE in Previous Years

2. The Declining Importance of the OSCE

3. Attempts to Revive the OSCE

Part III: Consequences and Prospects

9 The Ukraine Crisis and Its Implications for the Euro-Atlantic Security System

1. Two Aspects of the Ukraine Crisis

1.1. The Internal Crisis

1.2. The International Crisis

2. The Outbreak of the Crisis

3. The Motives of the Parties Involved

3.1. The West’s Motives

3.2. Russia’s Motives

3.3. Third-Party Assessments

4. The Consequences of the Crisis for the Euro-Atlantic Security System

4.1. Geopolitical Rivalry

4.2. Military Confrontation in Europe

4.3. The Weakening of Ukraine

4.4. The Weakening of Euro-Atlantic Security

5. How to Emerge from the Crisis?

10 Conclusions: Consequences of the Crisis of the Euro-Atlantic Security System and Prospects for Its Evolution

1. Growing Divergence of Interests and Rivalry for Spheres of Influence

2. Redistribution of Power in the System and the Weakening of Euro-Atlantic Security

3. The Weakening of the Euro-Atlantic Security System in the Global International Order

4. The Need for New Institutional Solutions

O autorze

Prof. Ryszard Zięba is a Full Professor at the Institute of International Relations, Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw, Poland. He served in the National Security Strategic Review Commission appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland and prepared expertise for the Polish Parliament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Regional Development, National Security Bureau and for the European Commission as Jean Monnet Chair. He published 22 books and about 400 papers and articles on international security, Poland’s and other Central European states and the European Union’s foreign and security policy as well as on theory of security studies and international relations. At the University of Warsaw, he teaches the courses “International politics,” “European security,” “EU’s security and defence policy,” “Poland’s foreign policy,” “Theory of international relations,” and “Foreign Policy Analysis”. 

Blurb

This book examines the evolution of the Euro-Atlantic security system, from cooperation to rivalry and crisis, since the beginning of the 21st century. By highlighting the causes, manifestations and international consequences of this evolution, the author describes a stage of crisis in the security system, characterized by increasing rivalry for spheres of influence, militarization of policies and the suspension of cooperation due to the growing divergence between the interests of the West – now including the Central European states – and Russia, leading to a subsequent reconfiguration of the world order.

Adopting a neo-realistic approach, the author demonstrates that members of the Euro-Atlantic security system, irrespective of the values they claim to hold, are guided in their actions on the international stage by clearly defined interests. The first part of the book analyses the nature of the Euro-Atlantic security system, while the second part illustrates the limited success of Euro-Atlantic collaboration, for example in combating terrorism. Lastly, the third part discusses the consequences of the crisis, such as the conflict in Ukraine, and prospects for the future evolution of the Euro-Atlantic security system.