Abstract
The case studies in this volume have examined the challenges facing the countries of postcommunist Europe in reforming and in particular professionalising their armed forces. The context within which the processes of reform and professionalisation take place is an extremely challenging one. The economic problems of postcommunist transition impose severe constraints on the resources available for defence reform. In common with all European states, electorates in central and eastern Europe appear reluctant to give priority to defence transition, particularly at a time when more pressing demands are being made for economic transition and welfare reform. Modern militaries are responding to the revolution in military affairs that is focusing their attention on the application of advanced communications and sensor technologies and precision strike capabilities to warfare. West European armed forces are also struggling to respond to three other challenges: the need to build consensus for appropriate levels of defence expenditure to provide effective national security; the need to recruit personnel with a high level of technical skill and to further develop them in response to the introduction of increasingly complex weapons systems; and the need to becoming learning organisations capable of adapting rapidly to new and often unforeseen challenges such as those posed by the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2002 Anthony Forster, Timothy Edmunds and Andrew Cottey
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Forster, A., Edmunds, T., Cottey, A. (2002). Reforming Postcommunist Militaries. In: Forster, A., Edmunds, T., Cottey, A. (eds) The Challenge of Military Reform in Postcommunist Europe. One Europe or Several?. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403914293_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403914293_15
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-42628-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4039-1429-3
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)