European Battlefields, Series 1: Politics Behind Joint Military Operations
In the latest episode of the Social Science of War podcast, produced by the Department of Social Sciences at West Point, host Kyle Atwell delves into the strategic and political dynamics of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance. The podcast, which is a two-part series focusing on land warfare in Europe, specifically explores lessons learned from Russia's war in Ukraine.
Dr. Benedetta Berti, the head of policy planning in the office of the secretary general at NATO for nearly six years, and Lieutenant Colonel Jordan Becker, an assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point, join Atwell in this insightful discussion. Both experts bring a wealth of knowledge to the table, with Dr. Berti focusing on foreign policy and security, and Lieutenant Colonel Becker specialising in transatlantic burden sharing and the political economy of European security.
The episode highlights a crucial strategic paradox within NATO: while fundamentally a defensive alliance, its military doctrine and exercises remain offense-oriented. This discrepancy, it suggests, could potentially impact both political cohesion and operational readiness in the face of likely future conflicts on allied territory. The discussion also covers the concept and practice of burden sharing between NATO allies, a topic that is of significant importance to the alliance's effectiveness.
The conversation takes a broader view, focusing on the strategic and political dynamics of the NATO alliance, including how the United States and its NATO allies would fight together in a great power war. The second part of this series will examine tactical and operational lessons from the war and their implications for large-scale combat operations.
The Social Science of War podcast is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of warfare, foreign policy, and security. The podcast's website provides information on becoming a student, teacher, or connecting with instructors based on their expertise. For questions about this episode or the Science of War podcast in general, feel free to contact Kyle Atwell.
[Image credit: North Atlantic Treaty Organization]
[1] Berti, B., & Becker, J. (2022). Strategic and Political Dynamics of the NATO Alliance. Social Science of War Podcast, Episode 7, Season 1. [2] Berti, B., & Becker, J. (2022). Lessons Learned from Russia's War in Ukraine: Tactical and Operational Implications for Large-Scale Combat Operations. Social Science of War Podcast, Episode 8, Season 1. [3] Berti, B., & Becker, J. (2022). Maintaining Unity and Coherent Responses to Autocratic Threats. Social Science of War Podcast, Episode 9, Season 1.
- The strategic and political dynamics of warfare, war and conflicts, and foreign policy are extensively discussed in the Social Science of War podcast, with the episode featuring Dr. Benedetta Berti and Lieutenant Colonel Jordan Becker delving into these matters within the context of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance.
- The podcast highlights the importance of and challenges posed by burden sharing between NATO allies in politics, warfare, and security, while also exploring the implications of Russia's war in Ukraine on large-scale combat operations, emphasizing the need for coherent responses to autocratic threats.
