Preventing
a Military Threat
Encouraging
the Growth of Democracy
Promoting
Economic Reforms
Promoting
Regional Stability
The process of political and economic reform in many of the new states has been characterized by indecisiveness, acrimony, and open conflict. Democracy and market economies were originally the goals of all states in the region, but little or no progress has been made towards these goals in many of these nations. In some cases, the banner of democracy has simply been hoisted over traditional forms of government by the few for the few. The principles of the market economy are not universally accepted or completely understood in most of the new states. Moreover, the drive for political and economic independence from the former Soviet central authorities has started to give way in some areas to serious thoughts of political and economic reassociation.
While the development of democracy and market economies is the long-term solution to the region's instability, the U.S. has an interest in preventing the re-emergence in the region of a military threat to U.S. interests. The risk of a new Soviet-type military-ideological threat, fortunately, appears to be small, since Russia--which would have to be the nucleus of such a threat--is making progress with political and economic reforms, thus reducing the possibility that it will re-emerge as an adversary.
In the long term, the success of democratic reforms--particularly in Russia and Ukraine--will enhance U.S. security. In turn, the establishment of democratic values will profoundly reduce the chances of conflict. Democratic reforms are the best long-term answer to the aggressive nationalism and ethnic hatreds unleashed at the end of the Cold War.
Promoting economic reforms in the former Soviet Union will significantly increase the chances that democracy will take root in the region. Additionally, economic reforms in the region, undergirded by political reforms, will open foreign markets for the U.S., as secure, democratic, market-oriented nations are more likely to support and engage in free trade.
Ethnic and border disputes present a real threat to the stability of the former Soviet Union. Many of the Soviet successor states--including Ukraine--are having problems establishing their sovereignty, are embroiled in violent conflict, or are ignoring democratic reforms. It is in the U.S. interest that ethnic feuds and the uneven development of reforms throughout the region not be allowed to threaten positive developments within the former Soviet Union or other parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
