NATO's Functions after the Cold War

When the cold war ended in Europe, many observers expected that NATO's demise would soon follow. Even if the alliance did not disappear altogether, it would become an empty shell, no longer performing any useful functions. In its place would emerge either a largely institution-free anarchy characterized by much looser, shifting alliances and a significantly greater risk of conflict1 or possibly other European security institutions that were better suited to the needs of the post-cold war environment. Contrary to such expectations, however, NATO has not become moribund. Indeed, it remains the leading security organization in Europe, even as the initial flurry of post-cold war institution building winds down. As a result, few analysts now expect the alliance to wither away soon. This article seeks to clarify the reasons for NATO's continued vitality. It argues that initial analyses of the alliance's future omitted several crucial considerations: the persistence of external threats sufficient to help justify NATO's preservation, its potential for acquiring