| dc.description.abstract | The image of a harmonious Atlantic alliance occasionally riven by acute crises was the actors’ own perception, and recurring fear, throughout its Cold War history. A long-term historical assessment, however, emphasizes a continuum of carefully managed frictions and disagreements. Differences were the norm, not the exception. More importantly, they were an asset rather than a burden. The negotiated, flexible accommodation of diversity expanded the range of Alliance policies, multiplied its diplomatic resources, and projected a more inclusive, attractive image. In the aftermath of détente, in particular, trans-Atlantic differences on East-West relations multiplied the comparative advantage of the West and played a key role in the peaceful demise of the Soviet empire. | en |
