NATO enlargement and democratic control of the Armed Forces: the experience of Poland and implications for neighboring "Partnership for Peace" countries

Abstract

The collapse of the Warsaw Pact, the end of global confrontation and the subsequent disintegration of the Soviet Union brought about a real opportunity for European unification and transatlantic security. Thus there is a unique chance for the states of Central and Eastern Europe to build an improved security architecture in the whole Euro-Atlantic area after half a century of division. That is why Central and East European countries are seeking to join NATO and in that way provide increased stability, peace and security for all without creating new dividing lines. To join NATO all Central and East European countries need to accomplish democratic transformation especially in the system of civil-military relations. Democratic civilian control of the military is one of the main prerequisites for Central and East European states to qualify for inclusion in NATO. Thus, NATO enlargement can promote democratic transformations of the East European countries, especially in civil-military relation realm, and integration of the Central and East European countries into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. By admitting new members NATO will make itself better able to address Europe's new security challenges. Such a broad concept of security embracing political, economic and defense factors can be the basis for the new security architecture which must be built through a process of integration and cooperation among the partners.