United States of Europe, Dream or Possibility?
Abstract
The thesis is an attempt to analyze the post-war trend toward integration by the nations of Western Europe to determine whether any of the organizations that have resulted could lead to a political entity, a United States of Europe, capable of becoming a third power center between the United States and the Soviet Union. The method chosen to examine this trend is to review three major politico-military problems currently confronting the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to determine whether the attempts by the Alliance partners to solve these problems were dictated by military necessity or by political expediency. The bedrock question is whether the perception of a common military threat and the subsequent reaction to the threat built toward a political union. Europe's past history has illustrated the point that if the perception of a common military threat persisted over a long period of time, a solution to the attendant political problems would be forthcoming. In NATO it became apparent upon examination that the perception of the common military threat was of short duration. The problem of continuing vigilance in the face of changing NATO strategies; of nuclear control, ownership, and development controversies; of the failure of the Alliance members to meet their commitments; and of the divisive effects of resurgent nationalism leads to one answer--there is no liklihood of a United States of Europe emerging as a third power in the world power balance during the next decade.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 08, 1966
- Accession Number
- ADA510136
Entities
People
- William M. Whitesel
Organizations
- United States Army War College