Book Review

NATO beyond 9/11, the Transformation of Atlantic

Alliance by Ellen Hallams, Luca Ratti and Benjamin
Zyla.

NATO beyond 9/11, the Transformation of Atlantic Alliance is an exhaustive treatise that
explores the transformation in political, ideological and military dynamics and evolution of

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation after terrorist attacks on American soil on eventful day of
September 11, 2001. The book has been authored by bevy of eminent scholars in the field of
European Studies, International Politics, War Studies, Security Policies and Energy Securities
from USA, Canada and northwestern European countries. It has been compiled by Ellen
Hallams, Luca Ratti and Benjamin Zyla.
Book was published in 2013 on the eve of withdrawal of NATO led ISAF
forces from Afghanistan and timing of publication coincides with the rise in Afghanistan
insurgency at gigantic scale; when Iraq finds herself at the verge of polarization along ethnic
and religious lines and Libyan solidarity stands weakened by absence of strong central
government and the whole region from banks of Euphrates to fringes of Sahara once
renowned for being known as cradle of civilization has verily become a cauldron of conflict.
The timing of publication, thus, could not have been more meaningful as book offers a
retrospective analysis while evaluating the formidable Atlantic alliance.
Terror attacks of 9/11 on America could not have occurred at a more
fateful juncture of NATOs history when the beleaguered alliance was in a desperate quest for
a raison d'tre after dissolution of Soviet Empire and was embroiled in aligning itself to the
new forces that the abrupt end of Cold War had unleashed. This book discusses ad nauseum
whether cataclysmic event of 9/11 was as proportionate in magnitude as was the abrupt end
of Cold War so as to bring about a revolutionary paradigm shift in NATOs ideology and
functional doctrine. Thus the pith of this book is to draw parallels between events of end of
cold war and beginning of war on terror and comprehend latters implications on NATOs
perceived transformation; to discover whether 9/11 and aftermath sounded the death-knell of
NATO or ushered in a new era of consolidation; whether 9/11 is a NATO-shaking or a
NATO-making event. At the same occasion, writers have also painstakingly shed lustre on
impacts of 9/11 on the trajectory of old issues, the so-called perennial dilemmas of NATO
like burden-sharing, relations with Russia and future of US and Europe military relations.
This book is divided into three parts: first is a new paradigm for NATO, second
being the transformation of alliance and the final one is old issues, expanding
partnerships, new networks. It comprises of sixteen chapters on topics ranging from NATOs
transformation and theoretical underpinnings to the perennial dilemmas in an ever-changing
geopolitical and global scenario.
At the outset writers have explained the theoretical underpinnings of NATO
according to three theories of IR. Neo-realists hold that 9/11 has only accelerated the
deterioration of NATO that had begun with the fall of Berlin Wall. Neo-realists explain that
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military alliance only draws its existence from the threat of common external foe. With such a
foe removed the alliance crumbles and falls apart. Liberals opine that NATOs existence owes
more to the liberal values of democracy and freedom than the existence of common foe.
Constructivists view that NATO is security community which is united by identity of
common cultural and democratic values and events that flowed from 9/11 do not pose an
existential threat to it (P-13).
NATO envisages a transformation as per its Strategic Concept 2010 which aims at
modernization and continuous improvement to fight the new challenges like cyber war,
climate, energy, humanitarian crisis, non-territorial threats, proliferation etc. But this
transformation had begun well ahead of 9/11 and events of 9/11 only accelerated this process.
Thus 9/11 was not a decisive moment of NATOs history and

cannot be construed as an

event which should herald a paradigm shift for Atlantic Alliance.

NATOs operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya have transformed it from a
geographical to a functional alliance. Alliances partnership at global level and specially with
Asia-Pacific nations have only served to substantiate this notion.NATO led ISAF forces
endured unprecedented sufferings in Afghanistan but this was a valuable experience in
nation-building and counterinsurgency which can be utilized further in turbulent regions (P60) . NATO was primarily perceived as a military alliance but NATOs role of stabilization
had established between itself and UNO a strong relation which was found desperately
wanting during the alliances Balkan operations.NATO is now more linked to civilian part of
international community than it was ever before.
Libyan intervention was significant in sense that it was carried out with dominant
role played by UK and France .On the other hand, it also signals NATOs limitation to
operate without USA thereby signifying Americas overarching role (P-207). Adoption of
Strategic Concept 2010 and ambivalence of alliances role in Afghanistan theatre led many to
believe that NATO was stripped of her operational significance but Operation Unified
Protector in Libya proved it otherwise.
NATO has always been imperiled by multiple structural flaws ever since the days of
cold war. One of such perpetual flaws is of burden sharing between USA and Europe and
within European NATO countries. Despite this innate flaw,NATO survived the tumultuous
years of cold war but post-cold war and 9/11 have profoundly exacerbated the uncertainty
about NATOs future.(P-133)
Now while USA is disgruntled about Europes unwillingness to share burden with
USA at global scale, the fear of American aloofness from Europe is hanging like proverbial
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Sword of Damocles over the heads of European leaders. Writer has mentioned how USA was
adamant to invade Afghanistan and Iraq even without operating under the umbrella of NATO
and how NATO forces were given roles in Afghanistan only in later stages. The fear has
intensified in last couple of years given the fact that Europe is grappling with rising specter of
immigration crisis and miserable failure of Europes military transformation doctrines.
In the end, writers have opined that NATOs relations with Russia are driven more by
the legacy of past than by the doctrine of liberal institutionalism. Lucca Ratti in his article has
hinted that relations have perhaps reached the turning point but have ceased to turn.9/11 has
not cast shadows on NATO-Russia relations. Future relations shall be driven by realist
tendencies than by liberal one as differences between NATO and Europe are perhaps
irreconcilable (P.274).
The book ends with a concluding chapter in which writers have opined that despite all
the innate flaws, geo-political challenges, changing priorities of USA, internal dissensions of
European powers, NATO still possesses remarkable degree of resilience to adapt itself to
changing world. Issues like burden sharing and internal conflicts are but constitutive elements
of NATO and can never be the catalyst of alliances disintegration and eventual collapse (P330).
NATO beyond 9/11, the Transformation of Atlantic Alliance has attempted to
highlight almost all main issues linked with NATOs dynamics. But writers judgment and
analysis about NATOs future stands clouded by the exaggerated optimism about the future of
alliance and its relevance as a major player in security environment of Europe in specific and
world at large after 20 to 25 years. It is always a herculean task to foresee the future trajectory
of military alliances when realm of Internal Relations has become so complex. But all writers
must speculate about the future if not offer a definite idea about it.
World we live is in a state of transition. Old order in Middle East framed under SykesPicot Treaty after culmination of World War 1 has collapsed; world order established after
end of World War II and Cold War is crumbling.USA is in its twilight years while China,
India, Brazil and Germany are rising like a colossus on the stage of international politics.
Whatever fate may befall the world, including that of NATO and of Europe as well, shall be
dictated by the interplay of these nations.
This books should have been written within the framework of these epochmaking realities but such eminent writers have strangely condoned this fact. All the sixteen
articles in the book assume that USA is a perpetual super power and her status as a global
power shall remained unchallenged. There is only a passing mention of US Asia pivot policy
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and no implications of this policy on US-NATO relations are mentioned. The future global
scenario may see US being more and more embroiled in Asia thereby relegating Europe to a
lower priority. This could prove to be a nemesis for NATO.Such scenarios must have been
incorporated into this book.
Eminent expert in international security Stanley Sloan in his widely read
book NATO, the European Union and the Atlantic Community: The Transatlantic Bargain
Reconsidered has expressed similar views. He advocates a dire need of structural reforms in
NATO which writers have overlooked. To Sloan, days of cooperation between Europe and
USA after the end of World War II is a tale of distant past.
Writers have blamed Europe for viewing NATO with the prism of cold war realities.
But they have themselves committed the same mistake. They say that NATOs inability to
resolve the perpetual dilemmas like burden sharing, internal divergence of opinions and
military transformation are constitutive elements of NATO and alliance can co-exist with it
in future as it did during Cold War.
Logic does not bear testimony to this assumption.NATO is now confronted with
non-territorial threats. Given Eurozone crisis, rising fiscal deficits, slashing of European
defense budget; military disparity of Europe viz-a-viz USA shall expand exponentially
making Europe even more dependent upon USAs military expertise.
NATOs Libyan experience is a proof of this fact. Toppling of Qaddafis regime is
an achievement of Libyan rebels not NATOs. NATOs air strikes had proved unable to defeat
Qaddafi but rebels assault on Tripoli turned tables. This spectacle in future may coerce USA
to view NATO as a burden instead of a global partner and what now appears to be a small
fissure may expand to become an unbridgeable chasm precipitating the collapse of NATO.
One must bear in mind that globalization, growth of liberalism, rise and fall of Great Powers,
politics of alliance is a cyclic process of history not an irreversible one.
Despite the mantra of commonality of ideas among European alliance, NATOs
survival rest on fighting a common external foe as NATO is primarily a military alliance.
Cold war NATO did survive as her energies were captivated by aims of, keeping Americans
in, Russians out and Germans down, in words of NATOs first Secretary General, Lord
Ismay. Without a common foe, NATOs future appears precarious.
Writers have rightly pointed out that NATOs relations with Russia shall be based on
state-centric ideas, but while forecasting the dynamics of relations, they have failed to predict
the Russian occupation of Crimea. This occupation has emerged from NATOs failure to
grasp Russian mindset. It is perceived in Europe as an offense but in fact, this occupation
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emerged from womb of Russian insecurity. From 1999 to 2009 NATO embraced 12 East
European States in its fold and added flame to Russians perceptions that Ukraine would be
the next. But a school has evolved which states that NATO can be used as a bulwark against
resurgent Russia indicating that vistages of cold war still exists.
NATOs Afghanistan and Libyan affairs have been a failure. Both operations have
failed to attain the goal of nation-building and have made world even more unsafe. Professor
Horace Campbell in his book Global NATO and Catastrophic Failure in Libya has gone to
extent of challenging the legality of NATOs invasion of Libya.
Book should have furnished recommendations for removing the structural flaws
in NATO.Though different topic have been reviewed with different angles, certain places
appear to be rife with repetition.Srategic Concept 2010 is quoted at various places but it
should have been given in notes section at end. Articles 4 and 5 of Treaty have also been
frequently mentioned but provisions of treaty are not given. It should have been better to
present a brief history of NATO at the beginning in chronological order. Book is not meant
for a starter but has been written for specialists having sound footings on the subject. It is
penned by specialists for specialists.
Nonetheless, this book, despite flaws, is an excellent trove of knowledge as it is a fruition of
thorough research. It is a must read for those interested in International politics, security
studies, European and American studies and military experts as well.