Book Reviews : Gregory Flynn (ed.): NATO's Northern Allies. The National Security Policies of Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. London & Sydney: Croom Helm, 1985, 294 pp. Nils Ørvik (ed.): Semialignment and Western Security. London & Sydney: Croom Helm, 1986, 286 pp
| Author | Niels Amstrup |
| Date | 01 September 1986 |
| DOI | 10.1177/001083678602100305 |
| Published date | 01 September 1986 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
189
come attempt to treat a classical question in
differently. Nevertheless, its results, clear and
the study of international politics in clear,
consistent as they are, should provoke a more
quantitative terms. Given its clarity of struc-
nuanced discussion about the connections
ture and style it would have carried much
between economic factors and international
further if its empirical focus had been defined
conflict.
NIELS AMSTRUP
Institute of Political Science, University of Aarhus
Gregory Flynn (ed.): NATO’s Northern Allies. The National Security Policies of Belgium,
Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. London & Sydney: Croom Helm, 1985, 294 pp.
Nils Ørvik (ed.): Semialignment and Western Security. London & Sydney: Croom Helm, 1986,
286 pp.
SMALL STATES
relaxed attitude. The pessimistic book, the one
Too many seem too worried about the fate of
edited by 0rvik, will be presented first.
the small European states. In the emerging
debate on small states in the sixties the core
SEMIALIGNMENT
of the problem of small states was their mere
Semialignment and Western Security has an
survival (while they prospered, at least in
introduction and chapters on Denmark written
Europe). With the economic recession in the
by Carsten Holbraad, on Greece by Con-
seventies, the ’dependence’ of small states
stantine Melakopides, on The Netherlands by
became a main threat to their future (H611,
Ruud Koole and Paul Lucardie, on Canada
1983) until Peter J. Katzenstein recently told
(two contributions by Christopher Rose and
us that these very same states have coped
Hugh Thorburn), and on Norway by the editor
quite well with the changing conditions in the
himself. For reasons to be discussed shortly,
international economy (Katzenstein, 1985).
the book has not one conclusion but two. The
And then again, in the eighties the small states
contributions are all historically founded,
are causing ’trouble’, now within the security
apparently seeking long-term trends as an
policy issue. The small member-states of
explanation for the more recent policies of
NATO ’defect’ from the alliance, they suffer
the countries in question. In his introductory
from ’Hollanditis’, thereby threatening not
chapter, Nils 0rvik outlines his ideas of ’semi-
only the alliance but ultimately their own
alignment’. In very general terms a member
security. Are these troubles real or are they
of an alliance becomes semialigned when it
merely, as the previous ones, apparent?
does not accept all the major commitments
While there has been extensive debate on
implied in the alliance treaty. 0rvik mentions
the behaviour of the small NATO-members
various criteria, none of which are very
within the alliance, few serious studies have
precise. The most important is, clearly, restric-
been carried out so far. In particular, expla-
tions regarding foreign bases and nuclear
nations founded on comparisons between the
weapons, as well as limitations on allied
states in question are missing. Therefore, two
manoeuvres and exercises.
recent contributions to this problem deserve
Although the concept of semialignment can-
particular interest and the more so that while
not be defined in very precise terms it can be
they do not differ very much in their pres-
defended as an analytical tool. Few, if anyone,
entation of the development in the individual
will deny that Norway and, perhaps in particu-
countries they differ very much in their expla-
lar, Denmark are low-key members of NATO
nations. One of the books is, in this respect,
and whether or not the word semialignment
very pessimistic and critical whereas the other,
is used is not that important. But to 0rvik
without being ’optimistic’, takes a more
semialignment is not a foreign policy behav-
190
iour to be analysed but a very dangerous
alignment but, nevertheless, they conclude
phenomenon threatening the future of the
that ’the official attitude of the Netherlands
alliance. One of his more solemn phrasings
should be described as &dquo;fully aligned&dquo; rather
illustrates this (p. 8):
than &dquo;semialigned&dquo;’ (p. 108). Christopher
Rose writes that Canada simply ’is not semi-
The crucial question is again - where is the
aligned’ (p. 149). If the chapter on Norway
breaking point, how many commitments can be
had not been written by 0rvik himself, one
dropped, how many of the leadership’s requests
could easily imagine similar observations con-
can be rejected by how many members before the
cluding that Norway is a ’full’ member of
credibility of the deterrence and defence posture
NATO and
of the alliance descends
explaining the base reservations
to a point where its ability
to provide effective protection becomes suf-
as due to the country’s specific geographical
ficiently doubtful to invite hostile probes and
position.
’
incursions?
The disagreement between the editor and
the other authors is clearly presented in the
Using the term semialignment in this negative,
book’s two conclusions, one written by 0rvik
almost pejorative, sense has several con-
the other by the authors. In principle, two
sequences. In the first place, it makes an identi-
different conclusions must be preferred to one.
fication of the present problems in the alliance
In this case, however, the usefulness is some-
impossible. To 0rvik, these problems are a
what limited due to the editor’s extremely
mere corroboration of the inherent dangers in
negative attitude towards the concept he has
semialignment, but this can hardly be regarded
coined himself, viz. semialignment.
as an explanation. Furthermore, 0rvik...
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