The role of regional and international organizations in conflict resolution: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

THESIS
(Summary presentation)


The role of regional and international organizations in conflict resolution: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Abstract: The current Thesis main concept is to investigate the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) role in Conflict-Resolution. Furthermore, it is sought to demonstrate the effect that International Regional Organizations have, and more specifically the one that the NATO has, in guaranteeing the Security pillar in different inquired conflict case studies. More specifically this study focuses, inter alia, on two modern frozen conflict cases, the Kosovo Issue and the Cyprus Problem. Based on a contemporary tacitly comparative approach, the ascertainment or the rebuttal of the correlation between the resolution of their security pillar issue and the involvement of the NATO in modern frozen or active conflict areas is questioned. Thus, the problems and the potentials of the NATO entanglement in the aforementioned cases are evinced. Last but not least, it is attempted to get verified that the resolution of the security pillar issue is ensured by the North Atlantic Pact. The adopted methodology of this research work follows the hypothesis of hegemonic norm in the framework of the international society of states based on the approach of the English school of International Relations scientific paradigm as a suitable theory which can better explain the past and potentially the future. NATO evolved its strategy from a Transatlantic-European to a Global dimension. The legal/compatible status of the NATO with the United Nations Organization (UNO) is based on its inclusion in the collective self-defense system. Therefore, any forceful actions without a justification under Chapter VII of the Charter are prohibited, according to the international compulsory / mandatory law (jus cogens). The so called UN “franchising system” is located at the top of the crisis-management pyramid of armed conflicts, and a prominent position in its gallery is occupied by the NATO. The multilateral diplomacy takes place in a controlled environment based on a set of rules where the consensual decision-making at the highest administrative body of the Alliance, merges Great Powers' RealPolitik with the Idealistic equivalence of each member-state of the Covenant. Hence, whenever NATO reaches agreement, this is an expression of the collective will of twenty eight sovereign states. Implementing the NATO decision-making “method” is intended to bridle Hobbes’ Leviathan imposing momentum, in the absence of a "global social contract", in the hegemony’s military campaigns. Further analyzing the afore mentioned teleology, of reconciling Realism with Idealism, we acknowledge the transformation of NATO, as a consequence of the collapse of communism and the USSR, from an organization / covenant of collective defense into an international society system of states of collective security and defense. This international society of 28 states is theoretically fulfilling the desirable Order of the English School of International Relations’ scientific field. The NATO manages international high power political issues primarily in two ways in relation to the allegorical pendulum of the international society. In the first case either by consolidating an ex ante or ex post legitimate jurisdiction of international law, otherwise its member states are acting individually, out of any context of international law.

Key words Security, NATO-led Peace Keeping Operations, intervention, Responsibility to Protect, sovereignty, conflict, pillars, franchising system, consensus, treaty, pact, UN Charter, jus cogens, international law, international society, English School, pendulum, spectrum, hegemony, order, peace.