The future of Western alliances

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