Suchergebnisse

General interstate warfare, that characterized so many twentieth century conflicts is increasingly becoming obsolete, except for some rare cases. Indeed, the nature of warfare has greatly shifted into something new, and perhaps into something even more dangerous for international security with the development and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), the emergence of extremist groups, the access and use of WMD by terrorists, and the small deterrent effect of current military establishments towards these groups. The new warfare that has emerged is perhaps the most difficult type to respond to given its secrecy, its non‐territorial base, its "nihilist" characteristic, and the extraordinary dedication of its adherents to achieve their goals. New security requirements are urgently needed at this point and the essence of the response to this new warfare today lies in international cooperation, since the new opponents to the current world order are building a global organized presence.

The First World War and the Second World War provided the initial impetus for the formation of a cooperative bond between Europe and North America. The Cold War enabled the Atlantic Community to firmly establish itself and to construct the institutions that were to define its existence. The Community's role was to preserve the existence and democratic freedoms of its members against totalitarianism. The end of the Cold War did not change its underlying goal, but strains and disparities have emerged. Despite questions about its future, the Atlantic Community's existence is as strong as ever, reinforced by new and continuing threats to democracies. However, new roles and traditions must be developed in accordance with each nation's strengths, in turn strengthening the institutions of the Atlantic Community and the bonds among its members and enabling it to do what the United Nations is unable to do.