THE NATO AND INTERNATIONAL PEACE: A REFLECTION ON THE JUSTIFIABILITY OF THE ORGANIZATION IN THE 21st CENTURY

This article examines the rationale behind the formation of the North Atlantic TreatyOrganization (NATO) as well as its relevance in the present-day world. The departure ofrigid bipolarity from the international system sequel to the demise of the Warsaw pact;coupled with the roles played by some of the leading members of the NATO in fermentingchaos and hardships to Africa, Asia and the Middle East, have clearly bared theincongruity of the organization to the modern-day International Administration. While onthe other hand, the growing threats of global terrorism as well as that of thermo-nuclearholocaust, especially in the Korean peninsula, which apparently require the assistance ofthe NATO, may reverse the misgivings against the organization. Nevertheless, for theNATO to justify its relevance in the 21st century the article suggests speedy rapprochementbetween warring partners, speedy restoration of normalcy in conflict-trapped nations and,most importantly, ensuring sustainable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.