The Origins of Atlanticism in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

This article argues that the Atlanticism of Central and Eastern Europe originates in a specific set of historical experiences these countries have had with the United States over the past century. These include the Central and East European encounter with both Nazi and communist totalitarian regimes; a recognition of the leading role the US played in toppling communism and in facilitating the integration of these countries into Euro-Atlantic institutions; and the strategic calculation of many countries in the region that their national interests in Europe are better preserved via active American engagement that balances the influence of other major European powers.

Notes

In his book Svetova revoluce (The Making of a State), Masaryk wrote, ‘the American state is different from the European states, namely from Prussia, Austria and Russia; even the French Republic inherited the institutions of old regime … which never existed in America … On many occasions, and also in the cemetery of Gettysburg battlefields, I devoted much thinking to the idea that our Czechoslovak state would resemble America in that we, too, have no dynasty of our own and dislike foreign dynasty … On the other hand, owing to the tradition of our Reformation we do not have an intimate relationship with the Church—a minus point unless we realize that a democracy and a republic must be based on morality. Our restored state, our democratic republic must be based on an idea, it must have its own reason for existence that will be universally recognized’ (cited in Kovtun 1988, 53).

There were many well-known stories about the initial dismay of West European leaders over what they considered to be the naïvety of President Carter's human rights approach. In July 1977, for example, the German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau warned President Carter that his crusade for human rights in the Soviet bloc had jeopardized the policy of détente (see Garthoff 1985, 570). For further details, see Carter (1982) and Brzezinski (1983).

The best study of this broader debate as seen in the case of Germany and Ostpolitik is Ash (1993).

Perhaps the most eloquent description of East European dissident attitudes towards the Western peace movements can be found in Vaclav Havel's essay ‘Anatomy of a Reticence’ (Havel 1992, 291–322).

For further details on how and why Central and East European leaders turned to NATO see Asmus (2002, 11–18).

Both authors participated in the ceremony as members of the American and Czech delegations and witnessed the powerful emotions that were on display.

On this point see Sikorski (2003).

See, for example, the annual public opinion Transatlantic Trends surveys at <www.gmfus.org> undertaken in recent years by the German Marshall Fund of the United States which documents this convergence.