The Future of NATO Expansion: Four Case Studies

Description

In 1999 three East-Central European states (Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic) gained membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Since then, they have been consumers of rather than contributors to security. In its 2002 Prague Summit, NATO is expected to invite several additional post-communist states. Professor Barany argues that, once it began, the Alliance should continue the enlargement process. Nevertheless, he maintains that only states that satisfy NATO's membership criteria should be allowed to join. Through an extensive analysis of four NATO aspirants (Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia), Barany demonstrates that they are in several important respects unprepared for membership and that there is no pressing reason for NATO's haste and, while making clear that its doors remain open to qualified candidates, the Alliance should hold off further expansion until prospective members will become assets rather than liabilities.

'Barany's examination of the road to membership for Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia in NATO as well as his assessment of their NATO-readiness is groundbreaking. His work will (hopefully) go a long way towards avoiding future problems resulting from the first post-Communist round of enlargement.' Journal of European Affairs 'Barany clearly has excellent contacts in the establishments of these states, excellent language skills, and an ability to search out telling documents. The material gathered is outstanding in this sub-field of NATO enlargement studies'. Stuart Croft, SEER