Political Symposium

The relationship between Europe and the US has a long and varied history, and since the very beginning it has been characterized by both peace and conflict. Especially since the US' intervention in World War I, Americans have been willing or even forced to cooperate with one part of the European continent in struggles against other parts. Once the Cold War ended, hopes arose for the democratization and pacification of the entire region. Now, as the European Union pushes for integration, this mosaic of highly varied peoples, languages and (especially) interests is to be united for the first time in history. Optimists envisioned Europe and the US as two democratic unions with common foreign-policy interests. Unfortunately, the Iraq crisis has taught us otherwise. Relations between Europe and the US have not been this tense since before the disintegration of the former Eastern bloc. And, once again, Europeans appear to be divided in their positions regarding the US. What are the true causes of this varied yet persistent phenomenon?