Suchergebnisse

In 1989, U.S. President George H.W. Bush presented a vision of the
United States and Germany as "partners in leadership" in building a peaceful
and secure post Cold War world. A confluence of factors brought this vision
closest to realization during the overlapping tenures of U.S. President Barack
Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Persistent limitations and
shifting conditions including the election of U.S. President Donald Trump now
call the future viability of the vision into question, even as U.S.-German ties
remain the most plausible anchor of cooperative transatlantic ties in a period
of global change.

An exploration of challenges related to enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) focuses on the emerging triangle between the pro-American countries of central/Eastern Europe, the more independent-minded states of Western Europe, & the US. Although depictions of central & East European countries as "would-be lackeys of the US" are exaggerations, current trends suggest an unbalanced outcome that would not be in anyone's best interests. Factors considered are: (1) the increasing economic link between central/east Europeans with their immediate neighbors to the West; (2) the lessening potency of NATO's traditional triple rationale of "keeping the Russians out, the Americans in, & the Germans down"; (3) decreasing attention to the requirements of the alliance on the part of its three newest members; (4) the return to power of former communists; & (5) enlargement of the European Union. The urgent need for more leaders from central & eastern Europe to follow Czech President Vaclav Havel's path in transcending narrow disputes in order to focus on the broader values/goals that unite all members is emphasized. J. Lindroth

Discusses political legacy of former prime minister Meciar (June 1990-Apr. 1991, June 1992-Mar. 1994, Dec. 1994-Oct. 1998), initiatives of the Dzurinda administration, outcomes of the 1998 elections, and relations with NATO and the European Union.

Discusses political situation, parties, foreign policy toward NATO and the EU, and views of President Václav Havel.