Volume XXXI – Number 2

Anthony J. Pizzilo 

AbstractAlthough the Cold War seems to be over, Russia’s expansionist ambitions still pose a threat to the Eastern European states. Therefore, this paper argues that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should expand Eastward while pursuing future security arrangements with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and refining the Partnership for Peace (PfP) project—an overly ambitious peacekeeping partnership between NATO and Central Europe. Critics contend that organizations such as the OSCE, the PfP, or the European Union would generate fewer international disagreements than NATO. However, its success in the 20th century, its sizeable budget, and its mechanisms for accommodating Russia and other dissidents distinguishes NATO as an organization well suited to unite Europe. Ultimately, it would be a historic sin for NATO not to seek expansion, for the fall of the Soviet Union has marked an unprecedented opportunity for the West to consolidate European security and democracy.

Keywords: Cold War, peacekeeping, Eastern Europe, NATO, Russian expansionism, international organization, European Union

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