This piece situates the logic of NATO expansion in the immediate post-Cold War era within the broader history of the alliance. It argues that NATO has, since its inception, faced two competing pressures: to remain static or to become more dynamic and take on new members or new functional roles. With the end of the Cold War, the strongest arguments for a static NATO fell away, and the case for dynamism gained strength. A longer-term perspective suggests pressure on NATO to continue expanding. Seeing these patterns, and observing how some pressures changed over time, provides context for specific enlargement decisions. It also raises questions about the conditions that would have been required for NATO not to have expanded after the Cold War. This helps to contextualize the legacy of enlargement, to think about present policy, and to consider options for the future.

中文翻译：

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北约悠久历史中的连续模式

这篇文章将北约在冷战后不久的联盟更广泛的历史中扩张的逻辑作为前提。它认为，北约自成立以来就面临着两个相互竞争的压力：保持静态或变得更有活力，并承担新的成员或新的职能角色。随着冷战的结束，对北约静态化的最有力争辩逐渐消失，而朝气蓬勃的论据也得到了加强。从更长远的角度来看，北约面临继续扩张的压力。观察这些模式并观察一些压力如何随时间变化，为特定的扩大决策提供了背景。这也引起了人们对北约在冷战后不扩大扩张所需要的条件的质疑。这有助于将扩大的遗产背景化，考虑当前的政策，