NGO'S in post cold war Europe

Abstract

Europe's political emancipation from the paralysis of the Cold War can be traced to the development of the Organization for Security and Co‐operation in Europe (OSCE), which was known until this year as the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). The OSCE emerged as an intergovernmental diplomatic conference, with roots in the bloc‐to‐bloc divided Europe of the Cold War era. Its normative slant, and the circumstances of its creation, destined the OSCE to become more than its name suggested. It has symbolized much more than merely a dialogue on security issues. The democracy movements of Eastern Europe received political inspiration and legitimacy from the OSCE at an early stage. Now, in today's radically transformed, post‐Cold War Europe, rather than emphasizing merely relationships with governments, the OSCE has been trying to strengthen its ties with non‐governmental organizations (NGOs).