This report investigates the efficacy and evolution of Confidence- and Security-Building Measures (CSBMs) as primary instruments for maintaining stability within the post-Cold War European security architecture. Zdzislaw Lachowski, a researcher associated with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), utilizes a framework of institutional analysis to evaluate the transition from continental-level arms control to regional and subregional security arrangements. By synthesizing data from the 1990 CFE Treaty and the 1994 Vienna Document, the author argues that the future of European security relies on the continued adaptation of these cooperative mechanisms to address localized risks and emerging geopolitical tensions.

Experts and researchers in the field of international security recognize this report as a foundational reference for understanding the institutional history of European arms control in the late 20th century. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which serves as a comprehensive resource for scholars tracking the development of OSCE-related security policies.