02279cam a2200409 i 4500 rnd000000000048558 RAND 920212s1990 cau b 000 0 eng d 91134301 0833017241 RAND/N-3105-FF/RC (Sirsi) a190538 $35.00 CstmoR CstmoR ln----- e------ UA646.3 .K84 1990 Kugler, Richard L. author. Laying the foundations : the evolution of NATO in the 1950s / Richard L. Kugler. Santa Monica, CA : RAND, 1990. xvii, 117 pages ; 28 cm text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia unmediated n rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier volume nc rdacarrier A RAND note ; 3105 "June 1990." Includes bibliographical references. Part of a project to examine NATO's performance in shaping a security policy and establishing its defense throughout the Cold War, this Note seeks to determine whether the successful resolution of the Cold War in 1989 and 1990 was a consequence of inevitable forces or of NATO's own vision and actions. The guiding hypothesis for the study is that NATO's members overcame great obstacles to design and execute a coherent grand strategy, security policy, military strategy, and force posture. As the 1950s unfolded, NATO moved from a relatively frail condition to a growing conventional force structure, then shifted to an emphasis on nuclear deterrence, witnessed the rearmament of West Germany and the alienation of France, and performed best in response to crisis and when under strong U.S. leadership. Overall, the 1950s may be seen as a period when NATO created a firm foundation that foreshadowed its later stunning success. Also available on the internet via WWW in PDF format. Description based on print version record. North Atlantic Treaty Organization Armed Forces History. Europe Defenses. Rand Corporation. Ford Foundation. Rand note ; 3105. Online Access http://www.rand.org/pubs/notes/N3105/ 598688 598688