1. NATO- organization and policies
NATO’s character as a self-defence Alliance
A collective defence alliance;
A forum for political consultation;
The American leadership.
NATO’s adaptation to the post Cold War security environment:
NATO’s new strategic concept;
Internal transformation;
Outreach initiatives.

2. NATO’s character as a self-defence alliance
Objectives and tasks: collective defence (Washington Treaty, Articles 5 and 6) alliance, tasks: deterrence and defence from military attack.
A forum of political consultation (Washington Treaty, Article 4).
The American leadership: NATO strategies, integrated supreme command structure, the US contribution to NATO assets, research and development and procurement programmes.

3. NATO’s post Cold War adaptation- new strategic concepts
North Atlantic Council in Rome (8 Nov. 1991).
identification of security risks and challenges: WMDs, disruptions of the flows of resources and terrorism and sabotage; a broader approach to security adopted;
Objectives: consultation, deterrence, defence and security;
Non-Article 5 operations: NATO projecting force and operating out of area (NAC, Oslo 1992); conflict prevention, crisis management and crisis response missions.
Washington Summit (23-24 April 1999).
definition of security threats: ethnic and religious rivalries, unsuccessful reforms, human rights abuses, territorial disputes and dissolution of states;
collective security organisation; a framework for cooperation, consultation and dialogue;

4. NATO’s post Cold War adaptation- internal transformation
Adjustment of Alliance’s institutional and military capabilities: new force posture and deployable command and control HQs
Enhancement of the European Pillar- ESDI initiative (Ministerial Meeting, Berlin 1996). Combined Joint Task Force concept (CJTS); Modalities for consultation, cooperation and transparency between NATO and the EU (Washington Summit 1999).
Defence Capabilities Initiative- DCI (Washington Summit 1999): a set of military capabilities goals e.g deployability, survivability and interoperability.

5. NATO’s post Cold War adaptation- outreach initiatives and experiences
Out-of-area operations (NATO missions, OSCE and UN operations :
- Peace-support missions- IFOR, SFOR (Bosnia &Herzegovina) and KFOR (Kosovo)
Humanitarian military intervention- operation ‘Allied Force’, Kosovo 1999
Preventive operations in the 1990s: naval patrolling for enforce sanctions and embargo; military support of humanitarian air delivery.

6. NATO’s post Cold War adaptation- outreach activities II
Partnership for Peace (PfP)- launched in 1994, bilateral cooperation with individual partner countries; EAPC.
NATO-Russia Founding Act, Paris 1997 (special relationship with Russia); PJC; 2002 Rome Declaration- NATO-Russia Council
NATO-Ukraine Charter, Madrid 1997 (distinctive relationship with Ukraine); NAT)-Ukraine Commission
NATO Mediterranean Dialogue
NATO Enlargement
Milestones: 1995 NATO Study of Enlargement, Madrid Summit open door policy, the Membership Action Plan