Alliance within the Alliance?

It is increasingly apparent that major structural alterations of the Atlantic Alliance will have to be undertaken if the Alliance is to flourish in the 1990s. Suggestions for reconfiguring NATO frequently assume that a necessary condition for the integration of Western European defense is closer Franco-German military co-operation. The idea of tight Franco-German military ties is not new, but in nearly three decades the two dominant European powers have drawn back from creating a bilateral foundation for the European pillar. This book explores the origins of that hesitancy, which evolved during the Cold War era. It also examines the arguments - especialy those made in the wake of the Revolution of 1989 - in favour of a tighter bilateral security regime.