NATO functions as a dense elite-network security regime, not merely a treaty.

Evidence

NATO is at the heart of what has been called a “Euro-Atlantic security regime” built around an American extended deterrence commitment, forward defense in Europe, political coexistence with first the Soviet Union and then Russia, and large U.S. troop commitments, all guided by a closely coordinated policymaking framework. NATO’s complex ties to its members, the networks of elites in member countries involved in NATO affairs, and its organizational and issue “density” (many functions, subparts, and processes) make it an appropriate vehicle for the application of these theories. — Robert B. McCalla, NATO’s persistence after the cold war, 108

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the ‘Euro-Atlantic security regime’ concept and the density criterion that makes NATO amenable to institutionalist analysis.
• XREF: connects to: NATO’s bureaucracy policed member defense cuts to protect its own force-level standards — Robert B. McCalla, NATO’s persistence after the cold war, 88; High institutionalization distinguishes NATO from traditional alliances. — Robert B. McCalla, NATO’s persistence after the cold war, 107; NATO’s dense institutionalization beyond mutual defense is what made it survive its founding threat. — Robert B. McCalla, NATO’s persistence after the cold war, 107 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• High institutionalization distinguishes NATO from traditional alliances. #corroborates (0.90) — Robert B. McCalla, NATO’s persistence after the cold war, 107
• NATO’s dense institutionalization beyond mutual defense is what made it survive its founding threat. #corroborates (0.85) — Robert B. McCalla, NATO’s persistence after the cold war, 107
• NATO survived the cold war’s end due to institutionalization, not merely threats #corroborates (0.85) — Robert B. McCalla, NATO’s persistence after the cold war, 152