CIAO DATE: 03/05

Shift or Rift: Assessing US-EU relationships after Iraq

Gustav Lindstrom, Editor

European Union Institute for Security Studies

November 2003

Summary

The idea behind this transatlantic book predates the intense transatlantic exchanges that took place prior to the war in Iraq in early 2003. The run-up to the passage of UN Resolution 1441 in November 2002 provided clear indications that Euro-American relations were about to enter previously uncharted territory.

Given these developments, the Institute decided to produce an extensive study analysing the state of transatlantic relations. For each topic, two authors—one American and one European—were commissioned to provide their thoughts and insights. The result is twelve distinct chapters covering six diverse topics. The book provides both a general overview of US-European relations and investigates specific issue areas through case studies. The diversity on the American side is particularly great, with five different institutions represented among the authors. On the European side, contributions come from the multinational research team at the EU Institute for Security Studies. It should be noted that the views expressed in these chapters are the authors' alone, and do not necessarily reflect those of their institutes. They were written between the spring and summer of 2003.

Full text (PDF, 259 pages, 1.26 Mb)

Table of Contents

Preface , Nicole Gnesotto

Introduction , Gustav Lindstrom

US and EU visions of the world

Part I: The crisis in transatlantic relations , Stanley Hoffmann

Part II: EU, US: visions of the world, visions of the other , Nicole Gnesotto
  • Visions of the world
  • Visions of the other
  • Conclusion

The future of Europe

Part III: What does America want of Europe? , David C. Gompert
  • Introduction
  • The political effects of Iraq - breakdown and catharsis
  • The larger problem - the capabilities gap and the role of force
  • An interests-based relationship
  • Alternative futures
  • Conclusion

Part IV: Mind the gaps - across the Atlantic and the Union , Antonio Missiroli
  • American apples and European oranges
  • Euros and defence
  • Hubs and spokes

Part V: American foreign policy and transatlantic relations in the age of global politics , Ivo H. Daalder and James M.Lindsay
  • The lone global power
  • Globalisation
  • Hegemonists vs. globalists: the utility of power
  • Who is right?
  • Implications for the transatlantic relationship
  • A tipping-point?

Part VI: Power without restraint? Back to realities , Jean-Yves Haine
  • Global by ambition, alone by choice
  • Flawed by logic, risky by nature
  • Multilateral by identity, together by necessity
  • Options for the future

Case Study 1: US and EU priorities in the Middle East

Part VII: US and European priorities in the Middle East , Patrick Clawson
  • Israeli-Palestinian peace process
  • International intervention for Palestinian-Israeli peace?
  • Reconstructing Iraq
  • Iran's nuclear programme
  • Promoting reform
  • Conclusion

Part VIII: The Achilles heel of transatlantic relations , Martin Ortega
  • US leadership, ups and downs
  • EU involvement
  • Shaky scenarios
  • American and European perceptions of the Middle East
  • The price of prejudice: Israel and Iraq
  • From perception to vision: towards an EU policy on the Middle East
  • Basic principles for an EU Middle East policy
  • Epilogue: the advantages of a transatlantic policy on the Middle East

Case Study 2: US and EU in the Balkans

Part IX: The Balkans: from American to European leadership , Daniel Serwer
  • US interests in the Balkans are multiple but secondary
  • European interests are more vital but varied
  • Lack of cooperation leads to ineffectiveness
  • US leadership changes the picture
  • The future of US/European cooperation in the Balkans
  • Is Europe ready?
  • Conclusions

Part X: The interplay between the EU and the United States in the Balkans , Dimitrios Triantaphyllou
  • Between the end of the Cold War and the Dayton/Paris Accords
  • The implications of US involvement
  • American exceptionalism and the Balkans

Case Study 3: Terrorism—US and European perspective

Part XI: The US response to terrorism and its implications for transatlantic relations , Brian Michael Jenkins
  • Towards a global phenomenon
  • Escalating violence
  • The US response
  • Transatlantic differences
  • Efforts and challenges post-9/11

Part XII: Terrorism: European myths and realities , Gustav Lindstrom
  • Myth 1: Europeans don't care about terrorism
  • Myth 2: Europeans are not willing to use military might to combat terrorism
  • Myth 3: European and US approaches to combating terrorism are incompatible
  • Implications for the transatlantic link

Annexes

Abbreviations
About the Authors