Kaplan (history and European Union studies, Kent State U.) concentrates on the differences within the North American Treaty Organization, particularly between the US and Europe. Internal conflicts, he says, have arguable been more frequent and often more bitter if not more dangerous to the alliance
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) remains a vital link between America and Europe for common defense, even after the fall of communism. Established in 1949, NATO was a key countermeasure against Soviet aggression during the Cold War, considering an attack on one member as an attack on all. Over its 45-year history, NATO has navigated numerous challenges, including the Korean War, the launch of Sputnik, the Berlin Wall's construction, France's withdrawal in 1966, and the civil war in Yugoslavia. In updating his 1987 history of U.S.-NATO relations, scholar Lawrence S. Kaplan discusses the organization's challenges in the 1990s and argues for the continued necessity of NATO for a stable Europe, emphasizing the importance of U.S. troop strength. Kaplan traces the shift from America's pre-World War II isolationism to its commitment to NATO, examining the postwar sentiment that led to the treaty and the efforts by figures like John Foster Dulles and Arthur Vandenberg to establish the alliance. He also explores the evolution of U.S. involvement, including NATO's "New Look" in the 1950s, negotiations with Charles de Gaulle, and the dual-track approach of the 1970s that balanced arms development with arms control.