Abstract
The twenty-first century has come with new security challenges, some of which are being played out very close to Europe’s borders. One of the latest examples is Russia’s growing aggression, which is challenging European political principles and core values. Russia appears to be testing the unity and strength of the Western world. For its part, Europe seems unable to wake up to the threat. But there is no time to lie back: our response must be immediate. Europe must acknowledge that it could face a military threat on its own territory—war is not a ghost of the past but a present reality. Our goals should be the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory and ensuring that Ukraine has full control over its borders. Serious efforts should also be made to bolster EU security through closer cooperation with NATO and increased defence budgets.
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Notes
Francis Fukuyama is an American political scientist, political economist and author, best known for his book the end of history and the last man (1992).
A turning point in Japanese history occurred in 1868 when the last shogun was overthrown and the emperor assumed direct control over the nation. The following Meiji period (1868–1912) was marked by new openness to the West and the establishment of a strong, centralised government. This revolution brought about the modernisation and Westernisation of Japan.
A series of political, legal, cultural, social and economic policy changes that converted the new Republic of Turkey into a secular, modern nation-state.
On 27 May 1997 at the Paris NATO summit, Russia and NATO signed the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security.
Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, made this statement at the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776.
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Pabriks, A. European security: stop sleeping and wake up. European View 13, 259–268 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12290-014-0333-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12290-014-0333-3