How was the United States Affected by Changes in Eastern Europe that led to the Reunification of Germany?
German unification resulted from the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, as well as, the bankruptcy of communism (Bozo 192; Painter 108). At the rise of the Cold War, in Europe, Germany was a chief ally of the United States. Hence, German unification had several inferences on the security strategy of the U.S.
For the U.S, the impacts of Germany reunification with Eastern Europe are numerous. First, only a few numbers of forward-deployed armed forces might be needed for the fortification of Europe. Circumstances of defense planning have transformed from depending on threats to relying on risks. At present, the greatest risk rests in the peaceful conversion of the previous Soviet Union towards democracy and a liberal economy, as well as, in resolutions to problems such as those that become encountered in Yugoslavia. Regardless of how serious these incidents may appear, the conventional military threat, in Europe, is significantly lesser than at the time of the Warsaw Pact.
Second, political control by military skills can be attained on a much-reduced level of forces compared to the past. The skills of the U.S military, in Europe, can be directly linked to the degree of the U.S Influence in the area. The entire NATO states, in Europe, are presently in a process of slimming down their eminent, military forces.
Third, the possibility of participation in a main military conflict gets reduced, significantly. The interior border of Germany was the line of conflict amid the superpowers, in Europe (Junker 20). The evolution of any confrontation, at this point, would have put the survival of the U.S. at risk. At present, the threat is history, and no European border has a potential conflict of similar intensity. Thus, the U.S commitment in Europe is, at present, less risky and cheaper than in the past.
Fourth, the increased pace towards unification provoked a crisis, which will reduce the capacity of the European community to help the U.S. in finding solutions to global issues. The U.S suffers several economic problems, such as unemployment, due to the monetary policy of Germany, following unification.
How do you think the United States might be affected if Korea gets reunified?
The German unification model does not apply to Korea’s scenario, since the South Korean economy is not as strong as that of West Germany. A swift Korean reunification will turn into a vast financial burden for the United States. Hence, a swift Korean unification with impulsive North Korea’s fall is not in the national interests of the U.S. The remaining choice for the United States is to support continuing Korean unification through peaceful and democratic ways amid Northern and Southern Korea. The United States, pursuing the German model, may propose the one-plus-four principle to assure Korea’s economic feasibility and territorial integrity.
The United States unipolar framework of the global system will provide credibility to the U.S. scheme on the reunification of Korea. The United States may integrate both economic and security aspects into the bilateral rule. The United States may assume the initiative to create a local or international economic consortium to help in the restoration of reunified Korea’s economy.
A swift reunification of Korea may interrupt the balance of power, in the world. However, the continued existence of the U.S. military on the Peninsula will add to the peace and solidity in a swift unification process, through decreasing uncertainties of the procedure and worries of other superpowers.
Works Cited
Bozo, Mitterrand. The end of the Cold War and German Unification, New York: Berghahn Books, 2009. Print.
Junker, Detlef. The United States and Germany in the Era of the Cold War, 1945-1990: A Handbook, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Print.
Painter, David. The Cold War: An International History, New York: Routledge, 1999. Print.