US NATO Debate

Magnus Petersson is Professor of Modern History at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, Oslo, Norway.

In this important book, Magnus Petersson examines whether the reemergence of Europe as a primary security concern for the United States represents a return to the normal state of affairs, or whether it is more transitory, destined to fade away after the crisis in eastern Ukraine abates.This is a vitally important question for the transatlantic community, with significant practical implications for Europe’s foreign, defense, and fiscal policies. Petersson brings a particularly clear-eyed perspective to bear, adeptly assessing the political, policy, and scholarly levels of debate, and providing a thorough examination and critique of the discussion within the United States on the purpose, relevance, and importance of NATO.

• ContentsForeword 1. Where is the US going with NATO?1.1 NATO’s changed role in US security policy1.2 Analyzing the US NATO debate1.3 The actors in the US NATO debate1.4 Limitations and the structure of the book2. 2011: The Libya War2.1 The political debate in Congress2.2 The political debate in the Administration2.3 The policy debate in the think tank and elite media environment 2.4 Summary and reflections3. 2012–2013: The Chicago Summit and the Syria Conflict3.1 The political debate in Congress3.2 The political debate in the Administration3.3 The policy debate in the think tank and elite media environment3.4 Summary and reflections4. 2014: The Ukraine Crisis and the Wales Summit4.1 The political debate in Congress4.2 The political debate in the Administration4.3 The policy debate in the think tank and elite media environment4.4 Summary and reflections5. Conclusions5.1 The results of the analysis5.2 The wider implications of the resultsName Index of ActorsList of AbbreviationsBibliography Index