Original scientific paper
The Accession of the Republic of Croatia to NATO in the Perception of Non-Governmental Organisations
Dario MATIKA
; Institute for Research and Development of Defense Systems
Marinko OGOREC
; Institute for Research and Development of Defense Systems
Abstract
As the Republic of Croatia's joining NATO is becoming more
credible and the time until its acceptance into full
membership is becoming shorter, debates on this issue are
intensifying, causing much interest in the Croatian public and
often resulting in greater or lesser polarisation. One of the
main factors affecting the forming of public opinion are also
non-governmental organisations, which have different
approaches to almost all societal, political, economic and
social issues in Croatian society as well as to the question of
Croatia's approaching NATO. In that context, a research has
been conducted in order to define the attitudes of a part of
non-governmental organisations about the Republic of
Croatia's approaching NATO as well as their perception of
NATO in changed international circumstances. Research has
shown that a great number of non-governmental
organisations and their memberships are against Croatia's
joining NATO. Also, non-governmental organisations are
demanding a referendum about the approach of Croatia to
NATO, which should be preceded by a broad public
discussion and the introduction of full, correct and equitable
information about the advantages and disadvantages or
non-approaching of Croatia to NATO and the possible
alternatives of security systems as well as the expense of their
development.
Keywords
NATO; Republic of Croatia; non-governmental organisations; collective defense; cooperative security
Hrčak ID:
22740
URI
Publication date:
30.4.2008.
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