Anatomy of Post-Communist European Defense Institutions: The Mirage of Military Modernity

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Although the West won the Cold War, the continuation of the status quo is not a foregone conclusion. The former Soviet-aligned regions outside of Russia -- Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, and others -- sit atop decaying armed forces while Russian behavior has grown more and more aggressive, as evidenced by its intervention in Ukraine in recent years. Thomas Young delves into the state of these defense institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, whose resources have declined at a faster rate than their Western neighbors' due to social and fiscal circumstances at home and shifting attitudes in the wider international community. With rigorous attention to the nuances of each region's politics and policies, he documents the status of reform of these armed forces and the role that Western nations have played since the Cold War, as well as identifying barriers to success and which management practices have been most effective in both Western and Eastern capitals. This is essential reading for undergraduates and graduates studying the recent history of Europe in the post-Soviet era, as well as those professionally involved in defense governance in the region.

Reviews

Thomas Youngs final, uncompromising assessment of the current situation is in marked contrast to the general uninformed and unjustified complacency within NATO member governments and academia. It explains a great deal about the inability of those governments to respond adequately to the recent and drastic changes in Europes security environment. This book is written with great academic rigour which gives it total credibility and reliability. It is also remarkably timely given current Western policy dilemmas. It is a wake-up call which needs to be widely read in Western capitals by policy makers, opinion formers and educators. It fills an important gap in our understanding. * Chris N. Donnelly, CMG, TD, former Head of the Soviet Studies Research Centre at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK, Adviser to PM Margaret Thatcher and former Special Adviser to the Secretary General of NATO *
This is a must read book for anyone concerned about the defence of Europe or the democratization of military institutions. * Stephen J. Blank, Senior Fellow, The U.S. Army War College, USA *

Author Bio

Thomas-Durell Young is Program Manager Europe, Center for Civil-Military Relations, Naval Postgraduate School, USA.