The Transformation of NATO’s Roles in Shaping Global Order and Security Governance

The purpose of this article is to analyse NATO’s security roles as a significant contribution to the development of a rules-based international order and the establishment of an effective framework for global and regional governance in the 21st century. Central to this study is an examination of the evolving roles NATO has adopted in recent decades, some of which were articulated during the Alliance’s founding in 1949, while others have emerged from the post-Cold War strategic transformations. The article is premised on a clear semantic distinction between the concepts of “international order” and “global governance”, arguing that the various forms of security governance associated with NATO’s roles collectively reinforce the creation and maintenance of a rules-based international order. This order is explicitly framed in NATO’s strategic concepts, which emphasise collective defence, crisis management, and cooperative security as foundational to the Alliance’s mission and its engagement in global and regional security governance. By exploring these dynamics, the article sheds light on how NATO continues to adapt and contribute to international stability, balancing traditional defence responsibilities with emerging security challenges in a complex geopolitical environment.