In the unlikely event of a Soviet offensive on Western Europe, a handful of under-armed American divisions could not be counted on to turn the tide. footnote 2 Since its inception in 1949, nato has assumed all of these functions each, however, has not been equal in significance, and their relative weight has shifted with time.įrom the beginning, the architects of the North Atlantic Treaty were under few illusions as to the military utility of their compact. As well as offering a framework for collective defence, and thus for coercive diplomacy, they may also serve as pacts of restraint, through which a strong power manages its weaker allies, potential adversaries seek conciliation or contracting parties pledge mutual forbearance. footnote 1 Ensuring internal order, encouraging commerce and disseminating ideology are additional alliance activities, far from exhaustive. But this is not their only, or even primary role. M ilitary alliances, by definition, are an agreement on the use of force against a rival.
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