The Commandants Introduction By Michael H. Clemmesen his issue of the Baltic Defence Re- It seems now to have been generally members seem to have realised this fact. view marks a change in the editorial recognized that the Alliance has to be To succeed, the transformation must line that is symbolised by the changed reformed thoroughly to remain relevant take the alliance forward and change it cover. The adjustment is not only caused to the leading member state. The U.S.A., from being a reactive self-defensive alli- by the fact that the three Baltic states have involved as she is in the drawn-out War ance. The outlined new NATO is a po- succeeded in being invited to NATO as Against Terror that was forced upon her litically much more demanding, divisive, well as to the EU and now have to adapt by the 11 September 2001 attacks, is not and risky framework for military co-op- to the new situation. It is also based on impressed by the contribution from most eration. Its missions will include opera- the realisation that the two organisations of the European allies. Only a small tions of coercion like the one against will change their character when the inte- progress has been made in the Yugoslavia with regard to Kosovo as well gration of the new members takes place. enhancement of the force structures of as pre-emptive Out-of-NATO area crisis The implementation of the new editorial the European members since the 1999 response operations military activism line will only come gradually. However, a Kosovo Campaign and the Washington to counter emerging security challenges. third of the articles in this issue fit Summit, in spite of the formal political This does not mean that the basic mission completely within the new framework. agreement at that time. The fact that states of the Alliance disappears completely. As The NATO that the seven newly in- like Germany and the Netherlands have long as NATO is seen as relevant to the vited states are about to join in 2004 is further cut their defence spending makes Americans, Article 5 of the Washington either undergoing a fundamental trans- the requirement for a quick and visible Treaty will still be the foundation of future formation or is heading further towards structural reform even more important. collective defence against an external threat. irrelevance and eventual formal demise. The good news is that the new and invited However, the members of the Alliance are 4 presently convinced that it is highly un- With such a basic change of the secu- states development and their military likely that a threat of massive invasion rity environment and the framework for forces. against its area can emerge within the next the three Baltic states, everything that the The Review will, from now onwards, decade. They therefore have the option Baltic Defence College does must be deal with general issues related to the de- to change the focus of their armed forces adapted according to these changes. That, velopment of the Alliance, and it will do structure and readiness. They can proceed of course, also applies to its academic jour- so from the new member states point of further away from the former focus: de- nal, which has the purpose to reflect and view. terrence by territorial defence backed by inspire the thoughts and actions in the nuclear weapons - within civilian work- three states and to increase the knowledge We will deal with the dilemma facing ing hours. The increased participation in and understanding of the states outside the Baltic states in the further develop- peace support operations in the 1990s the region. ment of their forces. How do you main- could take place without fundamental During its first years of existence the tain the capability to participate in in- changes. The next step cannot. The more focus of the Colleges activities was pri- ternational operations with valuable focused and modernised force contribu- marily on building and operation of an niche contributions, and at the same tions agreed on at the Prague Summit will, affordable territorial defence structure, time continue to develop an officer if implemented, be a useful first move, built on mobilisation, mainly using the corps with at least a minimal level of but the first move only. experience of the Nordic NATO mem- understanding of the various elements bers and neutral states. This was in order of their profession? For army officers In relation to the Baltic states one could to counter the argument against Baltic this means both a theoretical as well as argue that where the prevailing opinion NATO membership, especially among the a practical combined arms background in the Alliance used to be that it was Alliance military, that the three states could from at least the lowest tactical militarily impossible to defend their not be defended, even until NATO forces formation, brigade level. Understanding territory against an invasion, the present could come to their assistance. The Baltic of the relations between combat, com- opinion is that defence against invasion Defence Reviews editorial line supported bat support, and combat service sup- of their territory and the territory of that line with articles about territorial port elements can only be developed if, all other member states is an irrelevant defence. We also underlined the signifi- as a minimum, one national brigade issue. cant progress that was made in the Baltic structure exists. It is as important as it 5 is for the developing musician to have An area that will remain in focus of other types of musicians to practice the Review is the developments in Russia, with. Belarus and Ukraine, and, from now on, How can the balance between immedi- also increasingly the development on the ate and potential contributions be reached Russian Southern and Eastern borders, in small member states with very limited that eventually are likely to become the resources such as the Baltic countries? How borders of Europe. much of the combined arms structure needs Finally will security issues in other than to be a standing force, on high readiness, a military context be in focus. How should and able to contribute quickly in a balanced the Baltic and other Central and Eastern way to alliance operations? How is it European states proceed with the continu- possible to ensure a proper quality of ing state building and transition proc- manning for the force, taking into ess? consideration the problems of military transition described elsewhere in this issue? What future role, if any, is there for conscription? What are the possible future fields of the Baltic states military co- operation within the Alliance? Is speciali- sation or role sharing an acceptable idea? Another natural field to deal with is the legal, foreign policy, and domestic politic issues and risks that face the small NATO members if and when they follow and participate in an offensive use of a military action that is necessary to keep the Alliance relevant. 6 The Responsive State By Lars Johannsen* goals were set by elites who, in splendid autonomy of the state was thus increased The goals achieved isolation, could utilize the extra-ordinary at the outset of the transition, making political capital1 generated through the the consolidation of democracy and the The political goals set by the Baltic extrication, to carry out reforms in which state dependent on the resurrection of the countries at the time of the independence the state would retreat from its dominat- civil society as well as a gradual in 1992 have been achieved within a ing position and its almost total penetra- understanding by the elite how to decade. A pluralist democracy has been tion of the society. While this is under- cooperate with emerging interests. introduced with the power changing standable given the character of the previ- Theoretically these lines of questioning hands peacefully through several free and ous regime with an excessive governance, follow two trains of thought. First, the fair elections. The sought-after independ- little possibility for individual choice and work of Linz & Stepan5 concerning the ence has been secured by the invitation alternative views on politics2 , and a legacy development of a usable state and to join NATO and all three states have a of a flattened civil society,3 it was almost Przeworskis6 focus on the generation of market economy today. The achievement forgotten that state retrenchment does not normatively desired policies as of these goals is not least reflected in the need to be the only goal, as the daunting requirements of consolidation and current negotiations to join the European task of change also requires a state that is sustainability of democracy. Second, the Union. capable to steer the process.4 works of Evans,7 Weiss8 and Leftwich,9 While there is much to congratulate One aspect of states capabilities is the who point out that in the West European with, it should be recalled that the political balance between state and society and the state type - in contrast to the minimalist * Lars Johannsen, Ph.D, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Aarhus, Denmark 9 liberal state - societal actors are involved through the democratic processes.12 In this in the policy process from formulation perspective democracy is undermined not The value of involving interests to implementation. Thus the state becomes only by the preferential treatment of embedded in society and thereby a interests but also by the misuse of office The majority of the present and developmental state, in which policy and by politicians and officials. former ministers surveyed express participation increase the legitimacy and This article is the first in a series of opinions concurrent with participatory usability of the state, is possible.