Explaining Nato Enlargement

Advocates of NATO's enlargement believe the policy will have far-reaching positive consequences, such as helping to consolidate democratic and market reforms in eastern and central Europe. In contrast, critics of the policy believe that NATO expansion will have far-reaching negative consequences. For example, they worry that enlargement will undermine Russia's willingness to co-operate with the West, and believe that new members will drag NATO into a region that is historically a tinderbox. NATO's decision to offer membership to three of its former Cold War adversaries - Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic - raises a number of important questions. What are the likely consequences of enlargement? Why did NATO decide to expand eastward? Which countries should be admitted in the future?
The contributors to this volume evaluate the pros and cons of NATO enlargement, explain why the alliance was expanded eastward, and make recommendations about which countries, if any, should be offered membership in the future.