Comments on Kaplan’s Proposal

Abstract

In 1973 I was privileged to participate in a colloquium of the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society, in Chicago and I remember participating in a panel chaired by Professor Morton Kaplan. The debate concerned the relations between the two superpowers and the security interests of the medium powers. I took the opportunity to express a European viewpoint, and already at this time it was clear that there were significant differences between Europeans and Americans over these issues. I am afraid that transatlantic differences have become even more pronounced since then, and that my comments will be no better received now than they were 10 years ago.