Unipolarity and the transformation of transatlantic security relations (1990-2003)

This thesis aims at evaluating a conceptual and theoretical framework in order explain why Atlantic alliance albeit vanishing of its existential threat, the Soviet Union and development of a European autonomus security and defence policy structures following the end of bi-polar world did not dissolve. The period under analysis between 1990-2003 is defined as a uni-polar system which is an exception in political history and alliance security dilemma is used as a key concept, why Atlantic Alliance endures despite the fact that it has been going through many crises inside the alliance much more stronger than the ones in the previous bi-polar ssytem. International political system did not evolve into multi-polarity, but to uni-polarity after the Cold War. It has become important how unipolarity has impacts on alliance behavior. Unipolar state (the US) keeps its traditional alliances (NATO members of the EU) while transforming the insitutions (NATO) accordingly for management of security at the global level. On the other hand, both sides agree on the terms of division of labor in order to avoid possibility of alliance security dilemma. The structure of the unipolar system gives policy choices to alliances in order to overcome alliance security dilemma. The weak alliances can be free riders in the system for international public goods while preventing themselves to be entrapped by the unipolar power. Thus transatlantic alliance endured due to unipolar structure of International political system.