Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book represents an overview of European security affairs as of 1989-1990. It deals with fundamental theoretical and political-strategic considerations, looks at arms-control developments, examines European defense economies and military industrial capabilities of the United States, and discusses possible features of a new European architecture. The book focuses on economic aspects of European security. A practitioner's view of the development of intra-European defense industry cooperation is followed by a theoretical assessment. The book examines the concept and policy of appeasement, and then the Soviet dimension of the European framework. It explains the future of nuclear weapons in Europe, the specific role of Germany in nuclear deterrence in Europe, and the limits of alternative conventional deterrence for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The book also deals with a frequently overlooked weapon of warfare in modern society: terrorism.