introduction
Several years have passed since the Berlin Wall and the Communist regimes came crumbling down in the revolution of 1989. The euphoria that resulted from these momentous event is now being replaced by a sober contemplation of the realities and challenge of the new Europe. For all its drawbacks, the division of Europe into two rival blocs after the second World War kept the peace for forty-five years. Now order has been radically transformed, and superpower relations in Europe have change just as dramatically. Soviet force will be gone from Germany by 1994, and Soviet leaders have declared their readiness to withdraw all Soviet troops from Eastern Europe by 1995. U.s. force have already been reduced in Europe and further reductions are likely. Germany has been unified, the Warsaw Pact no longer exists, and NATO is de-emphasizing its military functions because of the reduced Soviet threat. These dramatic change have caused debate on the opportunities and dangers facing the new Europe and on the best way to preserve peace. Although it is generally accepted that both superpower will continue to play a significant role in European affairs, the nature of these change role is far from clear.