From Article 5 to 360 Degrees: Expanding NATO’s Definition of Security over 75 Years

Executive Summary

The IPC report ''From Article 5 to 360 Degrees: Expanding NATO's Definition of Security over 75 Years,"" written by Managing Editor and Researcher Megan Gisclon, was published. In today’s increasingly unstable world, threats to NATO stem not only from traditional conflicts but everyday life and practices, threatening not only governments and militaries but also societies and individuals. To better understand NATO’s evolving security approach, this report traces NATO’s expanding definition of security over its 75-year history with a view toward better comprehending the challenges that NATO faces today. It examines the topics of dis/misinformation, climate change, and the Women, Peace, and Security agenda as a lens from which to better understand NATO’s response to today’s security environment. This report is part of the project ""From Article 5 to 360 Degrees: Expanding NATO's Definition of Security over 75 Years,"" which was sponsored by NATO's Public Diplomacy Division.

Conclusion

NATO’s 75th anniversary provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on its legacy as well as how it is addressing the unprecedented challenges of today. Over the last seven and a half decades, NATO has become the most successful alliance in history, largely owing to its remarkable resilience and ability to adapt to the changing global threat environment. As seen through the first section of this report, NATO has successfully leveraged its consensus-based decision-making and protected its democratic framework to continue its core mission of collective defense well beyond the Cold War. Its purpose has remained intact despite major shifts in the international order, a move toward out-of-area operations, and the reawakening of the Russian threat on its borders.