Conflict Resolution in the New Europe
Abstract
What diplomatic mechanisms for conflict resolution should be adopted in Europe, and what role should the United States play in light of the revolutionary changes occurring there? With the exception of the Cyprus crisis in the mid-1970s and the internecine conflicts within the Soviet bloc in the 1950s and 1960s, Europe has been at peace since 1945. Europe is again facing Bismarck's "great questions." The strategic retreat of the Soviet Union from Eastern Europe, combined with the ideological shift there, has reopened a number of possible causes of conflict in Europe, not the least of which will be a reunified Germany. It is now possible that the most likely causes of conflict in Europe into the next century will not be a Soviet attack on the West, but rather long-suppressed regional disputes, failures of the balance of power, or ethnic rivalries. The issue before European leaders is whether Europe can resolve such questions without resorting to "iron and blood." Within the last few months, for example, the French have offered to introduce "volunteers" into Rumania; the U.S. Secretary of State has advocated the use of Soviet troops in that same conflict; and Greece and Bulgaria -- members of opposing alliances -- have discussed military cooperation against Greece's putative ally, Turkey. The United States is a European power with a vital interest in the European balance of power. This has been amply demonstrated by virtue of its decisive participation in the last two European wars, its successful 40-year effort to prevent Soviet domination of Western Europe, its economic interdependence with the European economy, and its shared commitment to democratic values and national self-determination. This paper discusses three broad approaches to the problem of conflict resolution in Europe: (1) preservation of existing East-West mechanisms, (2) a unilateral approach, and (3) creation of new bodies to resolve conflicts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 22, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA437122
Entities
People
- Joseph M. Dethomas
Organizations
- National War College