The Nation. - Department of Government at Cornell University

796 The Nation. June 5, 1995them an unacceptable drolt de regard over the foreign policyof other states. But curbing NATO’s eastward thrust wouldactually weaken the hard-hers politically by validating themoderates’ argument that the West has no military designson Eastern Europe. Russian milltarists now use the specter ofNATO expansion to distract attention from the brutal war inChechnya. Some restraint on NATO’s part would benefit thebrave critics of that war: people like the human rights campaignerSergei Kovalev, the committees of soldiers’ mothersand the journalists who risk their lives to counter the government’spropaganda.To some, all this is beside the point, because they say Russiawill inevitably come to oppose the West, regardless of themoderate forces inside the country. Thls argument holds thatit makes sense to prepare for that eventuality by expandingtween states whose populations contain significant minoritiesthat constitute the majority in a neighboring state, likethe Hungarians in Romania, Slovakia or the Vojvodina regionof Serbia.Other institutions might deal with such problems more effectivelythan NATO. The promise of economic rewards associatedwith membership in the European Union, for example,has already provided leverage for moderatmg the policies ofHungary and Slovakia toward their ethnic minorities. TheO.S.C.E. provides a means that NATO lacks for resolving regionaldisputes, primarily because its membership includesall European states, large and small, plus Russia and the UnitedStates. At the May summit in Moscow, Yeltsln made itclear to President Clinton that he preferred working throughO.S.C.E. rather than an expanded NATO, doubtless becausea proven institution-NATO-to provide security for the he sees Russia as an equal partner in the former but not instates not long out of the Soviet Union’s grasp. A corollary the latter. Finally, if a genuine military alliance were requiredhere 1s that alternative security arrangements are inferior, in- to defend Central and Eastern Europe, the W.E.U. would becluding reliance on collective security, on the Organlzationfor Security and Cooperation in Europe (O.S.C.E.), on theWestern European Union (W.E.U.) or on the United Nations.Although many of the crltlclsms of these organlzations maybe valid, there is no reason to believe that NATO is necessarilybetter suited to dealing with the kinds of threats thestates of Eastern and Central Europe are llkely to encounter.In the near term at least, these countries’ problems willnot come from Russia but from economic crisis, ecologicala better choice than NATO, largely because the United Statesis not a member.A revival of East-West conflict along the lines of the coldwar is hardly inevitable. But few geopolitical decisions wouldencourage it more than expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe.If the Clinton Administration insists on enlarging NATOit runs a serious risk of rupturing relations with Moscow, abreak that could be disastrous at a time when democratic reformersin Russia already face the distinct possibility of beingdegradation, internal ethnic conflict and from disputes be- overwhelmed by the forces of the past. 0BE ALERT!Frustrated by the massive amount of mail and calls the Right is able to on muster any issue at all? Tired of readingabout one travesty of justice after another and not knowing what to do about it? Want to do something concreteto help further the progressive agenda?Now The Nation has a special service to help you get your message across. Each month, NutionAlert issues ahot-button bulletin on an issue you care about: human rights, health care reform, foreign policy, social justice, minorityrights, the environment-so you can do something about the injustices reported on in our pages.We’ll put at your disposal our insider’s Rolodex of key legislators, corporate decision-makers and progressivefriends, so you can reach them by phone, letter, e-mail or fax. Plus,NutionAIert gives you a detailed summary of the issue, a bibliographyfor further reading, and updates on the effects of grass-roots initiatives.Make your voice heard! Become part of a growing political force!Join NationAIert by sending $18 for a one-year membership (12monthly issues) to NulionAIert, c/o TheNalion, 72 Fifth Avenue, NewYork, NY 10011. Or enroll by phone with your Visa or Mastercardat (212) 242-8400 x207. Call or write now to receive our next alert!IT’S YOUR VOICE-USE IT!