Ever since the revolutions of 1989-1990, most Central and Eastern European states have been striving to move closer to NATO's 'criteria' for membership. A critical element of Partnership for Peace (PFP) in January 1994 and its Study on NATO Enlargement in September 1995 was democratic control of the military—considered an essential pre-condition for NATO membership. Based upon years of 'inside' experience, Jeffrey Simon's book is a comprehensive and original study of civil-military relations in Poland that provides a conceptual framework drawn upon the lessons of post-communist transition in the entire Central and East European region. Poland and NATO: A Study in Civil-Military Relations is the author's third book to examine the difficult challenges facing Eastern European counties on the fast track to joining Euro-Atlantic institutions.

"In this detailed and well-argued account, Simon has provided the best account of the process of military reform and the creation of procedures for the democratic oversight of the armed forces that has been undertaken by successive Polish governments in the post-Cold War period." - Royal United Services Institute Journal

"No author is better qualified, based on his detailed research and his experience, to tell the story of the emerging post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe than Jeff Simon." - Parameters

"Jeffrey Simon's excellent survey of the Polish case illustrates the fact that armed forces reform in the CEE countries remains an on-going proces as opposed to simply a race to the finishing post marked by 'NATO membership'." - Programme, Rusi

"Careful and informative. Simon provides a detailed chronology of defense reforms since communism's collapse." - Naval War College Review

"[This book] will stand as a reference point in future scholarship. [It is] carefully researched and well footnoted, citing all the right sources-in short, an excellent effort from Simon." - Slavic Review