TY  - BOOK
AU  - Adewumi,Aluseye Niran
AU  - Kıralp,Şevki
TI  - NATO IN COLD WAR AND POST-COLD WAR ERAS
PY  - 2022///
KW  - Cold war
KW  - United States
KW  - Foreign Relations
KW  - Soviet Union
N1  - Thesis (MA) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research International Relations Department; Includes bibliography (sheets 68-72)
N2  - ABSTRACT
This study conducted a thorough analysis of the NATO alliance from the Cold War 
period to the post-Cold War era and the role of the United States in the alliance during 
these periods. This research paper focused on the core elements of NATO by 
employing a secondary qualitative approach to data collection. NATO’s establishment 
in 1949 as a security defense organization against Soviet threats, its enlargement 
policies during the Cold War, its post-Cold War reformation and enlargement process, 
the roles it played following the 9/11 incident, and its increasing role and influence in 
the global community in the 21st century were reviewed. The role and influence of the 
United States right from NATO’s establishment until this present day as well as its 
hostility with the Soviet Union during the Cold War period and its post-Cold War 
rivalry with Russia were also discussed. The outcome of the study shows that NATO’s 
enlargement policy has been the major issue faced by the alliance in its seven decades 
of existence. NATO’s objectives have revolved around enlargement since the Cold 
War period which saw the alliance face hostility from the Soviet Union, and its further 
expansion objectives during the post-Cold War have been met with further adversity 
from Russia who has and continues to vehemently oppose the alliance’s expansion 
plans into Eastern Europe. The issue of enlargement has generated several social, 
economic, military, nuclear, and political crises over the years and this has been 
challenging for the alliance. Nevertheless, NATO’s expansion policy has been of 
immense significance and contributed to European stability and ensuring a cooperative 
transatlantic relationship. NATO’s enlargement policy has also helped resolve 
instability and political conflicts in Eastern and Central Europe by annexing the former 
Soviet-bloc states and fostering cooperation across Europe. NATO has also been 
involved in several key intervention programs which have yielded mixed results, some 
successful and others critiqued. 
Notably, in all the seven decades of NATO’s existence, it has operated under the wings 
of the United States, and despite the alliance being the longest international 
organization and the only international body to have outlived the Cold War era, several 
pertinent questions have been raised about the alliance being an instrument of the 
United States regardless of the success of the USA-NATO relationship. The research 
concludes by proffering viable solutions which could enhance and strengthen NATO’s 
dominance as the world’s most effective international organization.
Keywords: NATO, USA, Cold War, post-Cold War, Soviet Union, Russia, 
Enlargement, Europe, West, East, Central, Communism
ER  -