Ukraine�s membership proposal to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2008

This research focuses on analyzing the reasons of Ukraine in pursuing The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership in 2008. NATO, established on April 4, 1949, is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty. The organization constitutes a system of collective defense that its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party. The objective of NATO�s establishment was to fight against communism, which was the Soviet Union that became common enemy for NATO member states. The problem can be found here is that Ukraine, a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) decided to pursue NATO membership rather than to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military organization established by other CIS countries. Even though Ukraine has an energy dependency with Russia, a leading former Soviet Union state, and the people of Ukraine strongly opposed, the idea of being NATO member state had continued to be pursued by Ukraine�s government. Moreover, to help in analyzing the issue, this research uses Neo-realism theory, national interest and the concept of Alliance trough qualitative research method. This research argues that there are several reasons why Ukraine took the decision to propose to be a NATO member state. First, since several tensions occurred between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine considered Russia as a threat. From that reason, Ukraine then shifted its foreign policy to pro-NATO orientation. Second, Ukraine would enjoy collective defense and security benefits by integrating in NATO. It is important for Ukraine in facing external threat. Lastly, economic advantages become another Ukraine�s interest in joining NATO membershi