NATO's European Allies Military Capability and Political Will

The question of burden sharing has always been important in NATO it has in fact resulted a "crisis literature" on NATO but it has an acute relevance today because the US will cut its defence budget over a ten-year period and is no longer automatically willing to lead military operations. The Libya mission 'Unified Protector' is a case in point: the US did not want to lead, but was forced to "lead from behind" because allies lacked some of the necessary capacities. Thus, even if Europeans are politically willing, as in this case, they may not be militarily able to use force. This edited collection asks whether Europe, in a current situation of economic austerity and postmodern political values, can play a key role in regional and global security and defence. Hitherto Europeans have been called upon to rise to the occasion of matching the US with minor contributions, ranging from "showing the flag" to militarily important contributions. But when the US signals that its lead role no longer is automatic, what about the European allies? Can they and will they undertake sharp operations on their own, assuming leading roles? Which of NATO's European allies are able militarily, and willing politically, to undertake "sharp operations" and to actually use force for the purpose of policy? This issue is of key importance for policy as well as for scholarship on NATO. In this volume, the ability and willingness to use force for political purposes amongst NATO's European members are explored, firstly considering the important drivers for the use of force, namely history, political culture, economy and threat perceptions, and then scrutinising the use of force in eight European NATO countries: the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Denmark and Norway.

JANNE HAALAND MATLARY is a professor of International Politics at the University of Oslo, and former State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Norway (1997–2000)

MAGNUS PETERSSON is an associate professor at the Norwegian Defence University College

Contents
Acknowledgments
About the authors
List of Tables
Introduction: Will Europe lead in NATO?; J.H.Matlary & M.Petersson
PART I: DETERMINANTS OF THE USE OF FORCE
From Mars to Venus? European Use of Force in a Historical Perspective; M.Petersson
A Farewell to Arms: Europe's meritocracy and the demilitarization of Europe; C.Coker
Towards an Affordable European Defence and Security Policy? The Case for Extensive European Force Integration; S.Diesen
Strategy, Risk and Threat Perceptions in NATO; Ø.Østerud & A.Toje
PART II: APPLICATION: CASE STUDIES
No More Free-Riding: The Political Economy of Military Power and the Transatlantic Relationship; S.Kay
Between Theory and Practice: Britain and the Use of Force; P.Porter
France: The State with Strategic Vision; Y.Boyer
The Reluctant Ally? Germany, NATO, and the Use of Force; B.Schreer
Willing and Able? Spanish Statecraft as Brokerage; D.Coletta & D.Garcia
Poland's Participation in NATO Operations; M.Pietras
Hungary in NATO: The Case of a Half Empty Glass; T.Magyarics
Punching Above Its Weight: Denmark's Legitimate Peripheral Participation in NATO's Wars; M.V.Rasmussen
Norway: Militarily Able but Politically Divided; J.H.Matlary
Index