(The latest version of this page is at Pattern Descriptions. An archived copy of this page is held at https://www.patternsofpower.org/edition02/7271.htm)
Countries can reduce their requirement for national armed forces by placing their relationships with their neighbours under formal governance, instead of relying solely on independent Self-Protection:
· They can set up formal alliances, based on legally-binding treaties. NATO is a prime example; its members have agreed to support each other if any of them is attacked.[1]
· Or they can choose to make a treaty which specifies an arbitrating power to which they can refer disputes – which would formalise their relationship as a contract within the Legal Dimension (5.3.5.1).
In either case the relationships between them are subject to the law, even though their purpose is Self-Protection against perceived weaknesses in international governance.
© PatternsofPower.org, 2014
[1] In May 2014, the text of the NATO treaty was available at http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/stock_publications/20120822_nato_treaty_en_light_2009.pdf. Article 3 reads:
“In order more effectively to achieve the objectives of this Treaty, the Parties, separately and jointly, by means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid, will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.”