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Summary: Sloan's Latest NATO Update
Review: Stanley Sloan pairs an easy-reading writing style with a well-documented text to produce an outstanding work for both novice and scholar. His book focuses on the issues surrounding the formation of NATO, the historical events that shaped the alliance, and its relevance in today's political environment. The majority of the book is dedicated to examining the historical events surrounding the formation of NATO and the European Union. He begins with NATO's genesis out of World War II by discussing the need for a collective defense system, the struggles to gain organizational consensus and early challenges faced by NATO. At center stage of the conflict is the European distrust of US intentions and the US's desire for greater European financial/military support for European issues. He moves to the Cold War period, examining the impacts of nuclear weapons policy on NATO and he looks at lessons from the Cold War. This book provides a great deal of insight on US Nuclear Policy development as we confronted both a Soviet threat and European political challenges. The post-Cold War portion of the book provides an exceptional look at the wartime missions faced in the Balkans, the issue of NATO expansion, and the impacts of 9/11. The final three chapters examine NATO's relevance in today's environment and potential organizational changes for the 21st Century. He finishes with his draft of a "contemporary" North Atlantic Treaty and his rationale for why changes need to be made to the 1949 original. Sloan includes two appendicles which compliment this book. The first is the 1949 Articles of the North Atlantic Treaty and the second is a chronological history of NATO from 1941-2001. Both are outstanding references. He also includes a bibliography as well as web links for updated information. All are great additions. I recommend this book.
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