Ideas worth keeping
On movements, written principles, and why it would be worth starting NATO today if it had never existed in the first place
Rule #1 of any movement is: Don’t commmit until you see the principles in writing. Once the principles have been documented, they can be agreed upon, which in turn becomes a tool for enforcing accountability. A movement that strays from its written principles can be reformed, but a movement without any can be molded and shaped by any charismatic individual who comes along.
■ There is a meaningful amount of debate today over the existence of NATO. And NATO, fortunately, has a documented charter. If we lived in a world where NATO had never existed, would we try to invent it?
■ If we take the charter seriously, the correct answer would be an unequivocal yes. Consider what it says in terms simple enough for anyone to understand. Article 1: Let’s figure out our differences peacefully. Article 2: Let’s promote free institutions and economic cooperation. Article 3: Let’s be like a prickle of porcupines and deter invasions by being really good at self-defense. Article 4: Teamwork, friends. Article 5: All for one, one for all. Article 6: Borders are borders.
■ There are eight more articles, but the first six contain the central principles. These are unabashedly, self-evidently good principles, just as valuable today as they were in 1949. And having them documented together allows us to see what kind of a movement they anticipate forming: One that would be worth starting from scratch if it didn’t already exist today.
■ But it does exist, and its existence is good -- good enough to be worth defending. Even if the execution is sometimes imperfect (as execution is in every human institution), the principles are worth adherence.