European insecurity and vulnerability

Nature

European security is jeopardized by the confrontation of the military forces of the NATO and Warsaw Pact alliances (and the threat of attack which they represent), and the absence of political, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural relations between the two blocs of countries. Symptomatic of the problem are the absence or near-absence of notification of military manoeuvres, the location of such manoeuvres in sensitive border areas, surveillance activities, construction of fortifications in border areas, flights of foreign planes carrying nuclear weapons, presence of foreign troops and military bases, and the actual size of military budgets and armaments.

Background

European insecurity and vulnerability emerged as salient concerns following the upheavals of the 20th century, with the devastation of two World Wars exposing critical societal and geopolitical fragilities. The Cold War further amplified anxieties, as shifting alliances and nuclear threats underscored persistent instability. In recent decades, crises such as the 2008 financial meltdown, migration surges, and regional conflicts have sharpened both scholarly and policy recognition of Europe’s enduring exposure to multifaceted risks and systemic shocks.