Changes in the Security Environment of Europe and their Implications for Czech Military Force Structure
Abstract
The security landscape of Europe, like much of the world, has dramatically changed in the past ten years. This transformation has been far reaching, and encompasses not only the political and economic spheres, but the cultural and societal ones as well. The bi-polar power distribution which characterized the preceding decades since the end of the Second World War has given way to a more diffused and decentralized multi-polar one which the states of Europe are still working to come to grips with. Set amidst these changes in the security environment is the realization that not only has the character of the threats changed, but that the traditional approaches and means of safeguarding against them may no longer be as effective or even relevant. These include the existing collective defense organizations, the national security and military strategies, as well as the individual military force structures. Like many of its neighbors in central and eastern Europe, the Czech Republic has undergone a major transformation since the "Velvet Revolution" of 1989, and the "big divorce" with Slovakia three years later. Today with a democratically elected government, a free market economy, and a new circle of allies, the Czech Republic shares in the evolution of the new European security environment. Responding to these changes, Czech policy makers have reformulated their country's National Security and Military strategies. As a result of these documents, they have also set out to re-engineer their military force structure. The current force structure of the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) is not compatible with the new roles and missions it must carry out as established by the country's new security and military strategies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA388730
Entities
People
- John D. Dumond
Organizations
- University of Denver