Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book deals with all of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) fundamental factors: history, structure, policy, capability and change. It focuses on the strategic vision that must necessarily underpin the political cohesion of the Alliance, for that is what makes NATO what it is: the enduring alliance. The book looks at the challenges and the many contradictions posed by victory as armed forces were cut across the Alliance even as Yugoslavia collapsed. It considers the tensions between American global policy and European regional policy, and the impact on the Alliance. The book also reviews the hard lessons learned on campaigns and operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, and why in spite of its many challenges the Alliance remains the only credible global strategic enabler that brings legitimacy, influence, military capability and effectiveness together.