Challenge of Military Reform in Postcommunist Europe - Building Professional Armed Forces

This major comparative study examines the challenges faced by countries of postcommunist Europe in reforming and professionalizing their armed forces. It explores how the interaction of the common challenges of postcommunism and the diverse circumstances of individual countries are shaping professionalization processes in this changing region. The detailed country case studies in this volume, written by leading experts to a common analytical framework, compare the experiences of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, FRY, Russia and Ukraine.

List of contents

Notes on the Contributors Preface Introduction: The Professionalization of Armed Forces in Postcommunist Europe; A.Forster, T.Edmunds, A.Cottey PART I: CENTRAL EUROPE Professionalization of the Polish Armed Forces: 'No Room for Amateurs and Undereducated Soldiers?'; P.Latawski Professionalization of the Army of the Czech Republic; M.Vlachová Professionalization of the Slovak Armed Forces; M.P.Ulrich Building Professional Competence in Hungary's Defence: Slow Motion; P.Dunay PART II: THE BALTIC STATES Professionalization of the Armed Forces in Central and Eastern Europe: the Case of Latvia; J.A.Trapans Lithuanian Armed Forces: Re-establishment, Professionalization and Integration; R.Sapronas PART III: SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE Professionalization of the Romania Armed Forces; M.Zulean The New Model Army?: Bulgarian Experiences of Professionalization; L.Cleary Professionalization of the Slovenian Armed Forces; I.Kotnik-Dvojmoc & E.Kopac A Revolution in Civil-Military Affairs: The Professionalization of the Croatia's Armed Forces; A.J.Bellamy Professionalization and the Yugoslav Army; J.Gow PART IV: THE FORMER SOVET UNION De- Professionalizing of the Russian Armed Forces; D.R.Herspring Professionalization, Civilian Control and Democracy in Ukraine; J.Sherr PART V: CONCLUSION Professionalizing Postcommunist Militaries; A.Forster, T.Edmunds, A.Cottey Index

About the author

ALEX J. BELLAMY Lecturer, Defence Studies Department, Kings College London, Joint Services Command and Staff College
LAURA CLEARY Lecturer, Department of Politics, University of Stirling
PAL DUNAY Director, International Training Course in Security Policy, Geneva Centre for Security Policy
JAMES GOW Reader, Department of War Studies, Kings College London
DALE R. HERSPRING Professor of Political Science, Kansas State University
ERIK KOPAC Researcher and Assistant Professor, Department of Defence Studies, University of Ljubljana
IGOR KOTNIK-DVOJMOC State Under-secretary, Slovenian Ministry of Defence, Assistant Professor, Department of Defence Studies, University of Ljubljana
PAUL LATAWSKI Senior Lecturer in International Affairs, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
ROBERTAS SAPRONAS Head of Analysis and Planning Division, International Relations Department, Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence
JAMES SHERR Senior Fellow, Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces
JAN ARVEDS TRAPANS Senior Fellow, Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces
MARYBETH PETERSON ULRICH Associate Professor of Government, Department of National Security and Strategy, US Army War College
MARIE VLACHOVÁ Senior Fellow, Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces
MARIAN ZULEAN Advisor on NATO and the OCSE, International Affairs Department Office of the Romanian Presidency

Summary

This major comparative study examines the challenges faced by countries of postcommunist Europe in reforming and professionalizing their armed forces. It explores how the interaction of the common challenges of postcommunism and the diverse circumstances of individual countries are shaping professionalization processes in this changing region. The detailed country case studies in this volume, written by leading experts to a common analytical framework, compare the experiences of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, FRY, Russia and Ukraine.

Additional text

'[A] well-conceived and tightly edited manuscript that adds significantly to our understanding of the military in an increasingly important area of the world. The conceptual scheme lends coherence to the substantive chapters, written by recognized experts on the countries in question. The book offers a needed corrective to the notion that NATO standards and notions of professionalism will dominate modern militaries. It will be of interest to those interested in post-communist systems and civil-military relations.' - Professor John Allen Williams, Loyola University Chicago, Executive Director, Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society

Report

'[A] well-conceived and tightly edited manuscript that adds significantly to our understanding of the military in an increasingly important area of the world. The conceptual scheme lends coherence to the substantive chapters, written by recognized experts on the countries in question. The book offers a needed corrective to the notion that NATO standards and notions of professionalism will dominate modern militaries. It will be of interest to those interested in post-communist systems and civil-military relations.' - Professor John Allen Williams, Loyola University Chicago, Executive Director, Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society

Product details

• Authors: A. Edmunds Forster
• Assisted by: Kenneth A Loparo (Editor), Andrew Cottey (Editor), Edmunds (Editor), T Edmunds (Editor), T. Edmunds (Editor), A Forster (Editor), A. Forster (Editor), Kenneth A Loparo (Editor), Kenneth A. Loparo (Editor)
• Publisher: Palgrave UK
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2002
• EAN: 9781349426287
• ISBN: 978-1-349-42628-7
• No. of pages: 270
• Series: One Europe or Several?; One Europe or Several?
• Subject: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education