Page 426 - 1992 - XVIII Congresso Internazionale di Storia Militare

392 IINT6NIO D~ )f.SUS BISPO
aware rhnt this could occur only aftcr thc c:mpires havc bc:cn dismantled and thc:
periphc:ry problems have been solved.
W e beHeve that for a better understanding of these complex problems i t will
be belpful ro consider the historical developmenr. Jn fact, a narion's memory is
always a factor robe considered in che decision making process in the international
comexr, especi:ùly with regard to d1e promotion and maintenance of its own in-
terests that should be. ultimately, the frcedom, the dignity and thc self promotion
of its citizens.
Then, we propose a very rapid ovcrview of thc subjecr, revealing some of the
background 10 Euro-Atlantic relations, bur onJy through the most significa m snap-
sbots, starting with American strategie thinking and action.
The fundamenml idea that is beni od rhis brief analysis is che idea of continui-
t)' in Europcnn sm1.tegic thinking. There has been no significanc change on elthcc
side of the Adanric, since the sevemeenth cemury for ir hns been foundcd on che
same sources and has cxpcricnccd 11 paralel developmenr. T he differcnces which
ha ve occurred must be cxplnined by thc specific national incerescs. objcctivcs and
environmenrs.
lt seems to be wonhwhile to recall AJexis de Tocqueville in "Dc la Dcmocratie
en Amerique", published nbouc rwo hundred years after che first Brirish colonics
had been esrablishcd in America, co clearly see the Americnn society in formation,
the principles chac had governed ic and co undcrsrand che specific environmcm in
which ir rook piace.
Following the dlscovery of chat new landmass in the lìfcc·enth ccnrury, cherc
had been some exploitation up co the bcginning of th.e seventeemh cenrury. l t was
genenUy known, from successive repons made by the imrepid navigarors, that a
piece of land was available ar the end of rhe vast ocean. Neverd1eless, whar che
dimensions and physical characccristics of thac land wc:re, ics resourccs nnd its in-
habiranrs, were somcthing diffuse; some vague ideas abour it, nor more than rhat.
So, it was in fan an adventurc co cross the occan, even learning from ochcrs rh~
route and, more or less, the poinr of landing. Cerrainly, thac cnccrprise would re·
quire a very hard decision and a very strong will.
At thar ti me in Europe the lack of religious colerance was a source of war-
one creed for onc cerrirory was che basic principlc:. The jusc war docrrine carne
tO che fore aga in. Up co the peace of Wesrphalia, che issue of religion was che mosr
imporra m single cause of war; from thar dare a nadon-srare's sovc:rcignty becamc
the most salicnr value which justilìed the use of military force. The religious cause
and che realism rcgarding relations bccween srares (che stare of nature) are boch
culrural auicudes that wcrc expoteed tO che New World and there thcy had their
proper evolution.
Within thls framcwork, we can assume thar cwo different mocivacions were
probably the basis of o dccision made co embark on chc advcnrurc co rc:ach thc