Nato and Neoliberalism
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NATO: A Neoliberal Perspective
To analyse NATO within the neoliberal perspective, the aspects of NATO as a key player in creating cooperation and strengthening the interdependence in the international system should be noted. As a priority, contents of the neoliberal theory will be identified and consequently the picture of NATO from this point of view will be provided. According to the neoliberal theory of international relations, individuals and states have the capacity to solve problems through collective action. This cooperative action among states creates mutual advantage and not only states but also other institutions play a central role in creating this advantage in international events. Most importantly, as a consequence of these mutual benefits, liberal democratic states avoid waging war on each other, which this avoidance is caused not just by international pressure but by domestic pressures also. Therefore military force becomes a non-primary instrument for the states in forming their foreign policies. In this sense international institutions and organizations may maintain an independent identity and can encourage cooperative behaviours while monitoring the states. The independence of these international institutions should be guaranteed with rational calculations which will utilize cooperation without a hegemon. Under all these ideas one can think of NATO as a military pact which considers use of power and domination in the first hand. But there are several unique characteristics of NATO that make this institution open to a neoliberal interpretation: First, NATO is highly institutionalized. It provides members with well defined rules, and these members participate in joint decision-making procedures, and obliges them to take part in a unified military command structure. These rules and practices create reciprocity which the transfer of military power to a supranational institution enhances the possibilities of mutual gain providing states a basis
NATO: A Neoliberal Perspective
To analyse NATO within the neoliberal perspective, the aspects of NATO as a key player in creating cooperation and strengthening the interdependence in the international system should be noted. As a priority, contents of the neoliberal theory will be identified and consequently the picture of NATO from this point of view will be provided. According to the neoliberal theory of international relations, individuals and states have the capacity to solve problems through collective action. This cooperative action among states creates mutual advantage and not only states but also other institutions play a central role in creating this advantage in international events. Most importantly, as a consequence of these mutual benefits, liberal democratic states avoid waging war on each other, which this avoidance is caused not just by international pressure but by domestic pressures also. Therefore military force becomes a non-primary instrument for the states in forming their foreign policies. In this sense international institutions and organizations may maintain an independent identity and can encourage cooperative behaviours while monitoring the states. The independence of these international institutions should be guaranteed with rational calculations which will utilize cooperation without a hegemon. Under all these ideas one can think of NATO as a military pact which considers use of power and domination in the first hand. But there are several unique characteristics of NATO that make this institution open to a neoliberal interpretation: First, NATO is highly institutionalized. It provides members with well defined rules, and these members participate in joint decision-making procedures, and obliges them to take part in a unified military command structure. These rules and practices create reciprocity which the transfer of military power to a supranational institution enhances the possibilities of mutual gain providing states a basis