The theory of Neorealism, elaborated by the Kenneth Waltz, makes a relevant point in outlining the political nature of military self-sufficiency and the greening process in NATO’s member’s militaries. As it has come to be known, greening with respect to energy security is on NATO’s agenda and very few studies try to understand the theoretical process of this issue. This thesis intends to fill this gap by analyzing the process of greening and energy security within NATO through the Neo-realism paradigm. Nonetheless, this thesis argues dimensions of energy conflicts, and calls attention to self-sufficiency and anarchical structures at the foundation of Neorealism. This thesis argues this particular example of NATO shows the benefits of Neorealism in understanding the military self-sufficiently and the greening process of NATO and ultimately calling for a more thorough and constructive need to develop this school of thought and the study of this case.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Theoretical background
1.2 Research questions
1.2.1 Justification
1.2.1.1 The choice of theory
1.2.1.2 The choice of case
1.2.2 Hypotheses
1.2.3 Definitions
1.2.4 Research strategy
Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework
2.1 The Roots of Neorealism
2.2 Kenneth Waltz: The Father of Neo-Realism
2.3 Balance of Power
2.4 Neorealism, Cooperation and Alliances
2.4.1 Methodological Approach
2.4.2 Data sources
2.4.3 Operationalization
2.4.4 Expected Empirical Findings
2.4.4.1 General neorealist predictions
2.4.4.2 Specific neorealist predictions with regards to greening
Chapter 3: NATO with respect to Energy
Chapter 4: Greening
4.1 The United States
4.2 The United Kingdoms
4.3 The European Union
4.4 Turkey
Chapter 5: Interpretation of Greening using Neorealism
Chapter 6: Answers to Research Questions and Hypothesis
Chapter 7: Conclusions
Objectives & Topics
The primary aim of this thesis is to evaluate the energy policies of NATO member states—referred to as "greening"—through the analytical lens of the Neorealist paradigm. The research seeks to determine how military organizations manage energy security and resource dependency within an anarchical international system, while assessing the descriptive power of Neorealism in explaining these modern military adaptations.
- The theoretical application of Neorealism to NATO's energy and greening initiatives.
- The strategic necessity of military self-sufficiency and its relation to national security.
- Comparative analysis of greening policies in the United States, United Kingdom, Turkey, and the European Union.
- The impact of resource scarcity and energy dependence on military operations and alliance cohesion.
- The role of "green defense" in increasing operational effectiveness and lowering vulnerabilities.
Excerpt from the Book
Chapter 1: Introduction
“Surely one of the strangest things in military history is the almost complete silence upon the problem of supply. Not in ten thousand books written on war is there to be found one on this subject... yet it forms the basis on which rests the whole structure of war; it is the very foundation of tactics and strategy “ (Colonel, 1934).
Major General’s JFC Fuller, if alive today, would have to reconsider his statement, as today there are hundreds if not thousands of books related to the problem of energy and supply. It is clear in the literature that energy security has been long studied in Political Science and International Relations (Barnett, 2010, Luft, 2009, Rosner, 2009, Moran, 2008, Monaghan, 2008.2006) but the case for NATO with respect to greening has not been as developed. Even though, NATO is an example that relates directly to the former.
Among several emerging issues, Ukraine, the economy and terrorism, which were discussed by the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President Manuel Barroso and United States President Barrack Obama during the March 26 News Conference in Brussels, Belgium, energy security appears to be one of the most contentious (Washington Post, 2014). NATO’s and most countries ever growing interest in environmental also support this and energy security related issues for many years now.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Introduction: Introduces the research topic of "greening" within NATO militaries, establishing the theoretical focus on Neorealism and outlining the core research questions regarding resource security and military self-sufficiency.
Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework: Details the origins and core assumptions of Neorealism, specifically focusing on Kenneth Waltz’s structural theories, the balance of power, and how states behave as rational actors under conditions of anarchy.
Chapter 3: NATO with respect to Energy: Examines the historical evolution of energy security within NATO, detailing how energy consumption has reached unprecedented levels and why the alliance has moved toward a "smart energy" agenda.
Chapter 4: Greening: Provides a comparative analysis of specific green defense initiatives implemented by the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and the European Union to reduce energy demand and diversify supply.
Chapter 5: Interpretation of Greening using Neorealism: Interprets the findings from the case studies through the lens of Neorealist principles, arguing that greening is a rational response to maintain military survival and independence.
Chapter 6: Answers to Research Questions and Hypothesis: Evaluates the research questions and hypotheses formulated in the introduction, synthesizing whether greening serves as an inevitable strategy for NATO states to ensure national security.
Chapter 7: Conclusions: Summarizes the findings of the thesis, acknowledges study limitations, and proposes future research directions regarding the ongoing integration of energy security within international alliances.
Keywords
Neorealism, NATO, Greening, Energy Security, Military Self-sufficiency, Resource Scarcity, Defense Policy, Energy Efficiency, Anarchy, Balance of Power, Operational Effectiveness, Sustainable Development, Fossil Fuels, Alternative Energy, International Relations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this thesis?
The work examines the "greening" processes within NATO member militaries, analyzing why and how these nations are adopting sustainable energy policies through the theoretical framework of Neorealism.
What are the central themes covered in the study?
Key themes include energy security, military self-sufficiency, the impact of energy consumption on tactical operations, and the strategic behavior of state actors within an anarchical international system.
What is the primary research goal?
The main objective is to assess the explanatory power of Neorealism when applied to the adoption of green technologies and energy policies within the NATO alliance.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The thesis employs a theory-testing case study approach, following Kenneth Waltz's criteria to infer hypotheses from Neorealism and subject them to observational analysis through the lens of NATO's policies.
What topics are addressed in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical roots of Neorealism, the history of NATO's energy consumption, comparative case studies of greening in the US, UK, Turkey, and the EU, and an interpretation of these policies as rational efforts to maintain military survival.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Primary descriptors include Neorealism, NATO, Greening, Energy Security, Military Self-sufficiency, and Resource Scarcity.
How does the author define "greening" in a military context?
Greening is defined through NATO's own standards: limiting environmental impact, saving costs, optimizing operational effectiveness, fostering energy-efficient business practices, and promoting educational awareness regarding sustainable development.
Does the author conclude that greening threatens the nation-level position of militaries?
No, the author argues that greening does not threaten the exclusive, nation-level position of militaries, but rather serves as a tool to enhance self-sufficiency and maintain sovereign operational power.
Why was NATO specifically chosen as the subject of this case study?
NATO was chosen because its status as a major military alliance makes it a prime candidate for power-based theories, and because there are rich data sources available for analyzing its collective and member-specific strategic moves.
- Quote paper
- Patrick Kozakiewicz (Author), 2014, Neorealism and Greening in NATO, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/282100
