North Atlantic Treaty Organization

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Institution

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Commonly abbreviated as NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an intergovernmental alliance that got formed in the April of 1949, less than a decade after the World War II. Based in Brussels, the organization relied on the North Atlantic Treaty and brought together a massive twelve nations at the very beginning with another sixteen joining over the years from 1952 to 2009. NATO was formed during the build up to Cold War at a time which alliances seemed relevant for security. There are misconceptions about the real purpose of the organization some of which have stated that it was duly meant to counter the threat that was posed by the Soviet Union. Considering that the organization has three operational fronts, those projected issues only bear in them partial points. The organization served to limit the creation of the European Nationalist Militarism, fostering political relations and integration and using the American presence to limit the growth and expansion of the Soviet Union.

The NATO structure is threefold and has a military wing, civilian structure, and organizational agencies (Kaplan, 2007). Human Resource including military force has been designed to ensure that the member states contribute according to their capacity and ability. But in as much, the military wing is one that was never so very functional (Gordon, 1997). That was until the American Government made the proposal that drove the member states to adopt the desire to counter the Russian and Chinese influence in the Korean War. The organization remained functional long after the Cold War with an increased membership capacity, a factor that falsifies the conception that it was purposely meant to serve as an assurance factor that would counter the USSR.

Increased Relevance of International Organizations

International organizations have been very significant in ensuring that global unity gets maintained though they play an opposing factor to that in equal measure (Kaplan, 2007). That is because the blocs can be sufficient reasons to go war as they equip nations with confidence and the urge to prove their influence. However, as nations sign pacts and unite to create blocs founded on the grounds of principles and convenience, a knitting that bridges all the diplomatic gaps gets created. As such, international organizations have had their significance in achieving several other aspects and benefits that have gotten analyzed below.

Security

Judging from the NATO structures and its history, a pointer at the extreme levels of insecurity that loomed over states that joined to create such alliances becomes eminent. International organizations in every sense also served to limit the chances of a reoccurrence of massive disputes and conflicts that threatened peaceful human eco existence. According to Collins (2011), the first NATO Secretary General made a statement in which he proclaimed the organization had an intent of limiting German powers when yet exploiting the advantage of the US presence. They also intended to avoid relations with the Russian government as it was considered to have conflicting interests with the NATO member states.

The scope of the insecure mannerisms through which such organizations got created gets clarified through the NATO military structure. The NATO member states established a military committee through which the Allied Command Operations (ACO) and the Allied Command Transformation (ACT) got created. ACO and the ACT have divisional segments whose headquarters are in different cities of the NATO member states, a factor that ensured that no member state was caught unawares in the event of an enemy invasion.

The organization also established Rapidly Deployable Corp Units in the member states that got projected as insecure and vulnerable to a Russian attack (Kaplan, 2007). France, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Denmark, and Italy were among the key beneficiaries of such plan that defined the desire to improve the National security of the member states. The deployable units that operated under the ACO and ACT got charged with joint training and operations duties. As such, there were divisions like the Joint NATO School in Denmark and the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Center in Portugal under ACT. NATO conducted security indulgences through the maritime exercises (Collins, 2011). The member states united in several air strikes and ground operations such as the Exercise Grand Slam and Exercise Longstep as they aspired to maintain the sovereignty of the members states.

Trading and the Fostering of Political Relations

As the Cold War gravitated, it took the shape of the capitalism on one side and communism on the other. Though the two ways of developing economies appeared liberal at the first occurrences, it became more apparent that the rivalry exhibited by the governments that practiced them was fierce. The creation of international organizations served as a platform from which states could create allies with whom they shared the same ideas. That gets evidenced by the analysis of the kind of parties that had joined to form NATO as all of them including West Germany were capitalist nations.

Under the NATO civilian structure, divisions were created that only fostered and improved relations (Collins, 2011). The most prominent of the divisions are the Political Affairs and Security Division and the Public Diplomacy Division. Not only did NATO member states identify themselves as governments founded on the same policy, but they also assured political stability and resourceful relationships as they could trade together. Through foreign policies, the member states aspired to eliminate some of the economic and political problems that had mired their economies with the onset of the Cold War. Proposals for the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall plans were intended to reduce national debt and arms race that could lead to an occurrence of another war.

Challenges faced by the International Organizations

As some member states considered themselves supreme and powerful, they exhibited a character that drove them to want to play the significant positions in every decision made by the organizations (NATO, 2014). Such mannerisms intimidated some other member states who felt that their capacity had evolved to the positions of influencing the critical decisions as well (Limnell, 2014). The US had such a dominant role in NATO and played a factor in almost every decision that got made. Not only did the American government urge other nations to make military contributions to the organization, but they also proposed most of the foreign policies (NATO, 2014). For instance, the Truman Doctrine and the Marshal Plans were American proposals aimed at intimidating the advancement of the USSR. Case for which, France withdrew active membership from NATO as she felt intimidated and bypassed by the US. Charles De Gaulle, the French President in the late 50’s into 60’s, made protests that expressed France’s discomfort.

In 1959, France banned the stationing of foreign NATO weapons on French soil and at the same time withdrew its Mediterranean Fleet. To further show its state of independence, France withdrew from the NATO command both of its Channel and Atlantic Fleets. 1966 marked the significant of the French progressive withdrawal; De Gaulle ordered the exit of all NATO military personnel who were non-French while on the other hand withdrawing the rest of the French staff. Nonetheless, France maintained a relationship with NATO as it targeted peace in the event of a war outbreak.

Funding was the other significant challenge. Nations were just in the process of recovering from the damage that had been inflicted by World War II, and economies were not as stable as had been before the war. In 1955, West Germany was accorded membership into NATO when yet she had just been defeated by the Allied army in the previous eventful war (World War II) and required funding to stabilize. The nature of destruction that nations like France, West Germany, and the UK had experienced drove the US to advocate the implementation of the Marshall Plan by donating 13 billion dollars themselves. Through the plan, the European economy was to be reconstructed, a factor that elaborated the inability of most member states to fund the operations of the organization adequately (Limnell, 2014).

Key Themes that are driving NATO

Though NATO’s significance was very apparent during the Cold War, it has stayed to play a much elaborated and equally important role for its members’ states. The organization serves aggressively to guarantee the international stability of its members’ states and even beyond (NATO, 2015). NATO’s concerns over the environmental issue and human security have marked most of its recent policies.

Environmental Security

NATO has been a part of the lamenting organizations that seek to improve the state of the degraded environs and ensure that there is food security, as well as reduced pollution rates (Hallett, 2010). The organization has used diplomacy to encourage the conservative use of energy resources that degrade the environment either through pollution or depletion of the reserves. NATO also aspires to improve food security and health by improving the supply and access to clean water for the nations that have limited access. For instance, there are strategies that have been put to assist Yemen through the problems that limited the people’s access to clean water (NATO, 2013). By ensuring that there is environmental security, NATO stabilizes all the aspects of livelihood within the member states or the concerned nations (Hallett, 2010). For example, the sparing use of energy resources or seeking alternative sources secures the long-term economic aspects of the nation, thus indirectly affecting the social and political aspects.

International Security

Afghanistan and Yemen are the biggest beneficiaries of the strategies that have been put to improve the security of member states and even non-member states. Military personnel have been deployed to these nations for peacekeeping missions as they have gotten muddled with internal terrorism and conflicts. NATO has also expressed concern over the status of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. So far, active personnel and military equipment have been moved to Latvia to facilitate the Ukraine defenses should the Russian advances aggravate the tension to actual war. The NATO member states have also made contributions, in the form of military equipment, to Ukraine to strengthen its defenses and prepare it for the possibilities of an advanced war. Neighboring nations have also been urged to assist in making air interceptions of Russian warships that have targeted Ukraine and Latvia.

The NATO forces combined effort with the US troops in implementing peace in Iraq in 2009 (NATO, 2013). Though the effort got made upon request by the Iraqi government, it was vital in upholding of peace within the nation suppressing the advances of militia that threatened the security of the nation. Such kind of international security has been prioritized by the organization for several reasons the first being that domestic quells can grow beyond borders and affect other countries. Though domestic duels do seem rampant and ordinary, they often affect the relations between the country involved and other countries. They can also weaken a nation’s ability to lay defenses and protect their borders. Proliferated borders have often led to the spread of violence or warfare, thus negatively affecting the neighboring countries (NATO, 2013).

Secondly, when member states get threatened with domestic violence, they lose their concentration and ability to make contributions to the organization effectively (NATO, 2013), or duly serve their citizenry (Seib, 2014). That would make NATO susceptible to manipulation and vulnerable to attacks. On the other hand, security breach on any of the NATO member states is duly countered as the pact upon which the organization got founded declares that they have to support each other when attacked. Such concern has also gotten expressed even toward non-member states to ensure that no nation intimidates another like in the Russia and Ukraine case in which Russia has forcefully annexed parts of Ukraine.

International Economy

NATO aspires to strengthen the economies of the member states as strong economies signify strength. The strength of the organization and its capacity to fund expeditions/exercises is dependent upon the financial muscle exhibited by the member states. At the moment, United Sates and the United Kingdom are the countries with the strongest economies and that explains why the two countries make most of the contributions made to the organization (NATO, 2013). In the event that they are severely affected by the war, and are unable to meet the expectations that have been laid upon them, the operations of the organization would get compromised. For instance, they would not be able to keep mass military personnel or a high number of military equipment with the organization. They would also not fund the civilian and organizational structures (Seib, 2014).

Nonetheless, that is not the only reason for the expansive deliberations that are conducted to strengthen the economies of the nations. The other reason is a social responsibility that ensures that the nature of livelihood within member states is sufficient. The organization was founded duly to serve a purpose of strengthening relations in all dimensions; social, political, and economical. While the political and economical aspects of relations aspire to improve relations and seek a favor in return, the social aspect of relations is different. It is the friendly way through which organizations can show that they care about the member states.

Concepts used by NATO to Manage Situations

There are several matters that often get presented to the organization for evaluation and solutions. The approach that gets adopted afterward gets influenced by the criticality of the matters at hand, and the nations involved as the issues that affect non-member states have to get approached cautiously (Ivanov, 2011). Many a times, the organization is charged with the responsibility of solving issues that threaten the member states either directly or indirectly. The following are the approaches that are often adopted by NATO, all of which have been used in the recent past to intervene in both violent and non-violent situations (NATO, 2013).

Militarism

Militarism is the use of military force and power to restore peace and uphold the security of both members and non-member states (Ivanov, 2011). The approach of militarism often gets adopted in situations that call for urgent intervention to assist in an incidence that poses a direct threat to human security. For instance, NATO intervened in the Libyan case in 2011 in which the then serving president was using military force to counter the civilian protests that threatened his power. The Libyan Government had resorted to using live ammunition when quelling the protests, a factor that led to the deaths of several civilians. As a result, the NATO members’ states authorized air strikes on Libyan military disarming them in the process. In the eventuality, the civilian force prevailed, and a new government got created.

The other instance is the Syrian case in which the government had resorted to using weapons of mass destruction to kill scours of civilian citizens (Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, 2015). The irritation that was felt by NATO became eminent as they approved military assistance to aid the civilians in their protests (NATO, 2014). The most recent case, however, is the Ukrainian intervention by NATO as they assist Ukraine to arm and adequately prepare for war with Russia that has annexed a part of it. Tension has so far built up since the NATO forces set up base in Latvia as they seek to bolster their military assistance to Ukraine (Global Security, 2014).

NATO has a huge army supported and funded by the member states. The NATO has an army of 7.8 soldiers in total, with 3.5 active personnel and 4.3 reserve personnel (NATO, 2014). The funding and support (provision of military personnel and equipment), is done on the basis of the capacity of the member states. For instance, the US provides a total of 2.2 million of the military personnel based on its military size and strength. The massive military size is paramount as the Organization gets entrusted with the responsibility of caring for a vast population of the member states averaged at nine million (Medcalf, 2012).

Diplomatic Approach

Diplomacy is another approach that has been embraced by the organization as it avoids the very nasty results of warfare, or in very tense situations that call for mechanisms that would serve to neutralize the tension. The approach is a duty carried out by the civilian structure that serves to foster the political relations and ties that the nations have (Jones & Askew, 2014). Diplomacy was widely used by the organization in the build up to the Cold War and even during the tense periods as the member states made every attempt to avoid the recurrence of another war. Always before the organization resorts to the use of military force, they try the more friendly diplomatic solutions as they prevent any possible outburst that might lead to war. Diplomacy is also used in post-war nations as the organization seeks to foster relations or to broker power between disputing factions (Asmus, & Council on Foreign Relations, 2002). For instance, the Libyan incidence is one that experienced the NATO diplomacy as the organization attempted to help the new government settle.

But in as much, it is still widely used even today though so to solve diversified problems inclusive of food and environmental concerns (Asmus, & Council on Foreign Relations, 2002) For instance, diplomacy has been employed to persuade neighboring nations to support countries that are economically affected, or whose ability to keep food supply within their borders steady has gotten compromised. Such situations are often a result of other factors that may be inclusive of internal disputes or natural catastrophes. For instance, the volcanic eruptions that occurred in Turkey in 2013 led to the cancelations of all the flights that are always scheduled to the nation or via it. The result was an effect on the economy, a fact that drove the NATO committees to make a diplomatic call to nations to assist Turkey (Łoś & Czulda, 2013). The other instance occurred when a deep economic recession hit Greece and severely dented its economy. In this case as well, NATO rallied a diplomatic cry that got aimed at gathering financial support for Greece to help them resuscitate their economy (Asmus, & Council on Foreign Relations, 2002).

Internal disputes within Ukraine whose effects threaten to spill to the neighboring nations have also led to the implementation of diplomacy as NATO attempts to steer the negotiation between the disputing parties. Diplomacy has also gotten used in situations in which the organization aims to expand its trading capacity, or acquire privileges from states that are not members (Aybet & Moore, 2010). In the same capacity, it can be used to persuade members to comply with the responsibilities that are not a part of their agreement with NATO (NATO, 2013). For instance, countries may be persuaded to make a military approach or intervention by virtue of their being NATO members disregarding their already recognized military contribution. Diplomacy often gets entrusted with the executive personnel of NATO and the permanent representatives. For example, most of the diplomatic negotiations are steered by the NATO secretary general, James Stoltenberg. Holding such positions requires a high level of intelligence by the office holder. Moreover, the decisions that get made on the kind of approach to implemented by the organization get conducted on the grounds of a common accord and unanimity (Aybet & Moore, 2010).

Possible Impact of changes in NATO Role, Functions, and Organization

At the moment, NATO stands as one of the most organized international organizations with a drawn ability of intervening in wanting situations (Ivanov, 2011). The fact that is has been a force to reckon with for all the years it has been in existence is a pointer to the level of commitment of its organizational structure and member states. Moreover, it has been fully functional for half a century and has gained more member states (Schimmelfennig, 2003). However, the scopes on which it got founded have evolved, and more important matters have come up, a factor that calls for the restructuring of the organization’s duties. The three thronged structure, Civilian, Military, and Organizational, are sufficient but have not gotten sufficiently enrolled with duties (NATO & FITASSC, 2013). The organization’s functions would be more pronounced and efficient if more divisions would be created and regrouped, thus in essence restructuring NATO.

As NATO has drawn more focus on the military security aspects of the member states or concerned nations, health has weighed down the well being of nations as pandemics and scourges kill people in masses. Moreover, the political developments in Asia and the developing nations have sired an effect as more countries embrace partnership with communism (Duke, 2011). Though most African and Asian countries are not member states, NATO should reconsider their approach to salvage capitalism and restore relations with the rest of the world. Improving food security would also involve making investments beyond the NATO borders (Hudson, 2012). The other issue that has so far been considered by NATO beyond its borders is terrorism though the manner it has reviewed the topic is inadequate. That is because it rushes to curb the effect of terrorism, rather than to stop its springing (Hudson, 2012).

Considering the above factors, NATO should create a military division that runs an intelligence program through which it would get intelligence on terrorism (Schimmelfennig, 2003). Countering terrorism with such detailed information that has gotten derived from other nations’ intelligence and can get manipulated would be efficient and productive. As such, the organization would have to set up spy schools in different countries (Larrabee & National Defense Research Institute (U.S), 2012). The organization would also restructure to accommodate the politics and development of the Asian and African communities. In so doing, it would be easier to invest in Agriculture and expand the food production for the member nations who have food insecurity. The political relations formed in the process would also influence some more countries to adopt capitalism thus ensuring more international economic stability. It is easier to stay stable economically if the neighboring countries are also stable (NATO, 2013).

Conclusion

Organizations have played significant positions in improving international relations, and NATO, in particular, has ensured that peace prevails. The organization has ensured that member states approach matters rationally and supports them through their rational decisions. Such gets achieved as members states are required to table issues that are of concern to them and unanimous decisions made on the kind of support that they would get accredited to them. NATO’s approach to solving matters using a combined approach of militarism and diplomacy has been efficient and pragmatic. By doing so, they have gotten the ability to evade war discreetly and apply force in adamant situations.

NATO has also sustained nations through economic and social interventions as it bears the burden of supporting member states to resuscitate from almost every kind of problems. Not only does it deliberate peace, but it also aspires to uphold the virtues that have gotten accredited with substantial improvement of eco factors. That explains how diversified and committed it is, and also factors into the reasons for its increased membership. Though it has experienced challenges and still experiences challenges, its dynamic approach to solving matters and meting out justice explains its success rates. NATO has been the sailing ship on which nations make an eventful cross of the menacing waters/challenges.

References

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