The CSCE and the Atlantic alliance: Forging a new consensus in Madrid

Abstract

This article analyzes how the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) delegations coalesced behind a common stance at the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) Madrid Review Meeting held from 1980 to 1983. It demonstrates that United States Ambassador to the Madrid Meeting Max M. Kampelman and international events such as the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Polish imposition of martial law, and the Soviet downing of Korean Airlines flight 007 fostered allied unity at the talks. Eventual agreement among the NATO allies about their strategy for the meeting gave the West a firmer and more effective negotiating position at Madrid, which it used to push proposals on human contacts, Helsinki monitors, the flow of information, terrorism, and religious freedom, among other issues. The reestablishment of consensus on CSCE issues within the Atlantic alliance at Madrid proved important because the ability of the NATO states to remain united despite internal disagreement over negotiating tacti...