NATO Enlargement: A Russian Perspective

Seven Consequences of NATO Enlargement

ONE--Deepening of the gap between Russian and Western civilizations. Historically, this gap is the most important concern. As NATO enlargement reflects a consolidation of the Western (Romano- Germanic) world as a civilization, Russia's reaction could not help but reflect the consolidation of Russian civilization as distinct from the Western. Any eastward growth of NATO that would leave Russia outside the alliance would strike a severe, if not fatal, blow to Russian westernizers and greatly encourage their opponents. It could also cause the West to lose a unique opportunity to bring Russia closer to itself as a civilization which is the only way to solve the West's historical task of turning Russia into an ally, rather than an adversary.

Of course, this civilizational gap would be partly bridged by Russia's progress on the road to economic reforms and creation of a working market economy. But the decision of NATO to spread over the whole of Europe would …

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Publication information: Article title: NATO Enlargement: A Russian Perspective. Contributors: Not available. Journal title: Strategic Forum. Issue: 34-37 Publication date: July 1995. Page number: Not available. © 2007 National Defense University. COPYRIGHT 1995 Gale Group.

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