Conference Program

The division between the original member states (those that joined NATO during the Cold War) and new members of NATO could be considered as one of the factors impeding the alliance’s efforts to redefine its purpose. The paper argues that the full-scale invasion and escalation of Russia’s war on Ukraine contributes to NATO’s re-identification as a defence alliance, returning to its original intent. The emergence of a common “Other”, absent in NATO from 1990 to 2022, demonstrates that the quest for a common identity is influenced more by systemic factors than by agency. This happens because the internal struggle to find a common denominator of perceived security threats encounters already existing notions of “us” versus “them” within the organisation. Hence, the discussion of ontological security revolves around the new members feeling like “the other” among the established Western members. The removal of alterity within “us” is viewed as a process rather than the ultimate goal in NATO’s identity construction. In conclusion, due to Russia’s war on Ukraine NATO can witness its new phase of identity consolidation, although the discourse analysis shows that the different aspects of ontological insecurity still remain within the alliance.

This presentation critically examines the role of the NATO Secretary General in shaping post-Cold War consensus and influencing decision-making in the realm of global security. Utilizing a multi-archival approach with historical documents and interviews not only in English but in Spanish and other languages, it explores NATO's evolving functions and their impact on international peace. The focus is on Javier Solana (1995-1999), a non-Anglo-Saxon Secretary General tasked with reshaping NATO. Acknowledged for his role in Spain's democratization, Solana aimed to establish a new security framework emphasizing a common European foreign and security policy.　

Addressing the gap in research, particularly from an Anglo-American perspective, this study concentrates on three critical aspects. First, it explores personalism, investigating the interplay between charisma, clientelism, and factors like personal philosophy and background. Second, it examines cooperation with regional organizations, spotlighting the EU-NATO relationship and the role of international organizations in regional conflicts. Lastly, the analysis focuses on relationships with organizations and institutions, studying the nexus between leadership and organizational reforms showed during Solana's tenure as Spanish foreign minister and Secretary General.

This unique perspective, centered on a non-Anglo-Saxon leader from a non-major power, sheds light on overlooked aspects crucial for understanding how leaders influence policy-making within international organizations shaping the global order. By addressing personalism, cooperation with regional organizations, and relationships with institutions, the study enriches our comprehension of the intricate dynamics at play during Solana's transformative leadership within NATO.

This study evaluates how NATO pursues ontological security in the Arctic based on the collective defense dimension of its organizational identity. By considering climate change and increasing Russian aggression as critical situations that have disrupted NATO’s routine interaction with Russia, the study highlights the increasing NATO anxiety in the Arctic. Based on an engagement between securitization and ontological security perspectives, the study shows how NATO has shifted its focus from cooperation to collective defense by practically increasing its military capacities in the Arctic and discursively securitizing Russia to alleviate its anxieties. Examining NATO’s Summit Declarations, Strategic Concepts, and press releases on the Arctic and Russia, the study reveals that NATO securitizes Russia through speech acts that portray Russia as violating international law and values, disrupting the peace in the Euro-Atlantic, and posing a threat in the Arctic. The study argues that these securitization discourses serve NATO to justify its return to the collective defense dimension of its identity based on Article 5 of the founding treaty and legitimize its increasing engagement in the Arctic.