NATO's European Allies : Military Capability and Political Will

The question of burden sharing has always been important in NATO with an acute relevance today as the US will cut its defence budget over a ten-year period and is no longer automatically willing to lead military operations. This volume considers Europe's role in political force for the future exploring eight European case studies. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction: Will Europe Lead in NATO?....Pages 1-21 Front Matter....Pages 23-23 From Mars to Venus? European Use of Force from a Historical Perspective....Pages 25-36 A Farewell to Arms: Europe’s Meritocracy and the Demilitarization of Europe....Pages 37-56 Towards an Affordable European Defence and Security Policy? The Case for Extensive European Force Integration....Pages 57-70 Strategy, Risk and Threat Perceptions in NATO....Pages 71-94 Front Matter....Pages 95-95 No More Free-Riding: The Political Economy of Military Power and the Transatlantic Relationship....Pages 97-120 Between Theory and Practice: Britain and the Use of Force....Pages 121-140 France: The State with Strategic Vision....Pages 141-160 The Reluctant Ally? Germany, NATO and the Use of Force....Pages 161-177 Willing and Able? Spanish Statecraft as Brokerage....Pages 178-204 Poland’s Participation in NATO Operations....Pages 205-231 Hungary in NATO: The Case of a Half Empty Glass....Pages 232-261 Punching above Its Weight: Denmark’s Legitimate Peripheral Participation in NATO’s Wars....Pages 262-278 Norway: Militarily Able but Politically Divided....Pages 279-300 Back Matter....Pages 301-310 The question of burden sharing has always been important for NATO, but this holds acute relevance today as the US cuts its defence budget over a ten-year period and is no longer willing to lead military operations. In a current situation of economic austerity and postmodern political values, this book considers whether Europe can play a key role in regional and global security and defence. When the US signals that its lead role is no longer automatic, what about the European Allies? Can they and will they undertake sharp operations on their own, assuming leading roles? Which of NATO's European allies are able militarily, and willing politically, to undertake sharp operations and to actually use force for the purpose of policy? This edited collection considers the important drivers for the use of force, namely history, political culture, economy and threat perceptions, and scrutinises these in the context of eight European NATO countries: the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Denmark and Norway. A range of international scholars discuss the crucial future role of European Allies and the impact this will have upon policy and scholarship on NATO