http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/27842890

Building security in post-Cold War Eurasia the OSCE and U.S. foreign policy

In the period since the end of the Cold War, the security landscape in Eurasia has changed dramatically. Conflict has frequently resulted from the breakup of states along ethnic lines, with elements such as regional, linguistic, or religious affiliation serving as the principal markers of identity. One of the main reasons for the outbreak of conflict in areas such as the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia is that ethnicity is linked to territory and claims for self-determination, producing secessionist and irredentist wars. This form of ethnonational conflict has retarded the process of state building, prevented the growth of democratic institutions, given outside parties the ability to intervene and manipulate the outcome, and created massive refugee flows. The nature of the European security problematique requires a new and different response from all institutions playing a role in the security arena. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is especially well positioned to respond to the complexity of post-Cold War conflict. Although often undervalued by U.S. policymakers and the media and generally unknown to the public, the OSCE has the potential to assist in preventing, managing, and resolving conflicts that have surfaced in Europe since the late 1980s.

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