Defending Eastern Europe - by Jacek Lubecki & James W Peterson (Paperback)

About the Book

This book utilises theoretical models to analyse the defence conditions and preparedness of Eastern Europe. It considers the transition from Cold War to post-Cold War democracies, the stability of the East-Central European States, the precarious defence positions of the Baltic states and the uneven defence preparedness of the Balkan states.

Book Synopsis

Following the passage of the fifteenth and twentieth anniversaries of the entry of many former communist states into both NATO and the EU in 2019, this book takes a comprehensive look at the changed security conditions of these new member states. How has NATO and EU membership improved their overall defence protection, and what elements are still missing for them on an individual state basis?

Utilising alliance politics theory, convergence/divergence theory and defence policy theory, the book provides an invaluable assessment of defence policies, from the stable East Central European states to the most jeopardised Baltic states in the north of Europe. With chapters on the Cold War defence conditions during the last two decades of Soviet domination, post 1989-91 transformations in the direction of democracy and the impact of the 2014 Ukraine-Russia-Crimea crisis, this book is essential reading for those seeking to understand the changed landscape of European politics in the twenty-first century.

From the Back Cover

Following the passage of the fifteenth and twentieth anniversaries of the entry of many former communist states into both NATO and the EU in 2019, this book takes a comprehensive look at the changed security conditions of these new member states. How has NATO and EU membership improved their overall defense protection, and what elements are still missing for them on an individual state basis?

Utilizing alliance politics theory, convergence/divergence theory, and defense policy theory, Lubecki and Peterson provide an invaluable assessment of defense policies, from the stable East Central European states to the most jeopardized Baltic states in the north of Europe. With chapters on the Cold War defense conditions during the last two decades of Soviet domination, the post 1989-91 transformations in the direction of democracy, and the impact of the 2014 Ukraine-Russia-Crimea crisis, this book is essential reading for those seeking to understand the changed landscape of European politics in the twenty-first century.

About the Author

James W. Peterson is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science at Valdosta State University

Jacek Lubecki is Professor in the Department of Political Science at Georgia Southern University