Publication

This paper details how with the end of the Cold War, Western reform assistance to Central and Eastern European militaries has reflected US and NATO concerns regarding potential challenges to still unconsolidated "democratic" authorities and revised dangers arising from non-traditional and non-military transnational threats. The author explains that in order to guard against such dangers, Central and Eastern European authorities were encouraged to introduce the Western liberal model of democratic civilian control. The paper provides a review of lessons learned from the military and defense reforms in Eastern Europe since the end of the Cold War and makes several suggestions for future best practices.