RUSSIA AND NATO IN PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE

This article discusses NATO - Russian security relations within the fr ame of <<Partnership for Peace>> (PFP). In accordance with a <<two-tie red modular design>>, the article argues that the PFP concept can prom ote collective great power cooperation in Europe and contribute to les s polarization between NATO and Russia. The analysis is based on a geo political perspective concerning NATO activity in Central Europe and R ussian activity in the CIS area. PFP, the article argues, might be a s trategy to show reciprocal geopolitical restraint. Eventually it will prepare for a security order de facto guaranteed by the western great powers in NATO and Russia in concert, as the great power <<tier>> in a European security system. In this respect, the kind of relations betw een the great powers as a first <<tier>> and a second <<tier>> of less er powers, within the framework of PFP, is of importance for a great p ower-guaranteed system.