Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This paper examines the research question of whether NATO, during its early development, was successful in fulfilling the aims articulated in Lord Ismay’s famous dictum that NATO should keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down. The authors analyse EuroAtlantic relations after the Second World War and the origins and development of NATO. The research hypothesis tested in this paper is that a thorough analysis of NATO’s origins and development up to 1957 cannot confirm the complete implementation of Lord Ismay’s dictum but rather that the majority of its aspects were inevitably reflected during the first years of the Alliance’s evolution. Using theories of international public administration and international relations, as well as historical lessons, this paper demonstrates that a detailed review of NATO’s origins and development up to 1957 does not fully support Lord Ismay’s well-known dictum. Specifically, NATO fulfilled the first two aims: keeping the Russians out and the Americans in. However, it did not achieve its objective of keeping Germany down. Instead, NATO significantly contributed to the reconstruction of the Federal Republic of Germany, which proved essential for NATO’s continued existence.
Source: Međunarodna politika
Authors: Miroslav Glišić, Nevena Glišić
Institutions: Ministry of Defence Republic of Serbia, Princeton University
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220868600