| May 2006
Transatlantic Relations | German-American Relations | European Union | NATO |
F1 - FulltextTransforming
Homeland Security: U.S. and European Approaches
Brimmer, Esther, ed.
Center for Transatlantic Relations, The Paul H. Nitze School
of Advanced International Studies, The Johns Hopkins University,
2006, 209p
”This volume addresses the need for the United States and Europe
to transform their respective approaches to homeland security
in ways that are more attuned to 21st century challenges. Effective
homeland security may begin at home, but in an age of catastrophic
terrorism no nation is home alone. If Europeans and Americans
are to be safer than they are today, individual national efforts
must be aligned with more effective transatlantic cooperation.
… if the U.S. and its partners are to protect their societies
more effectively, they must go beyond piecemeal extensions of
current policies. They must better understand and seek to bridge
differing approaches on each side of the Atlantic; better understand
what they are protecting; transform public-private and civil-military
relationships; adopt network-centric approaches; and include homeland
security as a high profile mission of key institutions and transatlantic
mechanisms.” Esther Brimmer is Deputy Director and Director
of Research at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Paul
H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at The
Johns Hopkins University. Fulltext
F2 - The Stresses of Deep Integration: The Transatlantic
Relationship’s New Economic and Political Challenges
Stokes, Bruce
AICGS Policy Report #23, Spring 2006, 30p.
“The transatlantic relationship -- and U.S.-German ties -- have
never been closer economically nor more troubled politically.
The bonds between Europe and the United States—and by extension
America and Germany -- are deep and strong. Yet the relationship
faces unprecedented new stresses: public alienation, dangerous
global economic imbalances, differing perspectives on the competitive
challenge posed by China, and niggling confrontations over taxes
or domestic regulation that were unheard of in the past but are
directly attributable to the ongoing economic integration that
has characterized the transatlantic marketplace in the last generation.
A new government in Berlin affords a unique opportunity to reestablish
a closer political and economic partnership, not only between
Germany and the United States but also, with German leadership,
between the United States and Europe. The challenge ahead is to
mitigate current political frictions in the relationship to ensure
that they do not impair the process of further deepening mutually
beneficial economic integration. This process will require accommodation
of values differences, bold new economic initiatives, and patience.”
Bruce Stokes is the international economics columnist for
the National Journal, a Washington-based public policy magazine.
Fulltext
F3 - The European Union, the United States & ‘Liberal
Imperialism’
Brenner, Michael
The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies,
The Johns Hopkins University, January 2006, 27p.
“The Iraq crisis has been a stress test for the transatlantic
partners. It is the latest in a series that at once has been revealing
and redefining their relationship since the Cold War’s end. […]
The drama of the Iraq affair exposed differences that run deeper
than divergent threat assessments and tactical responses. They
touch on questions of political identity, the meaning of the West,
and what it means to reify the idea of a world community. […]
The challenge is to define viable terms of a renewed partnership
while seeking consensus on a security agenda dominated by a novel
set of issues. A salutary first step is to take a searching look
at assumptions that shape the present discourse.” Michael
Brenner is Professor of International Affairs at the University
of Pittsburgh. Fulltext
F4 - Building Bridges and Crossing Borders: The Debate
over Immigration
Janes, Jackson
American Institute for Contemporary German Studies, AICGS
Advisor, March 31,2006, online edition
“Even at different starting points, Germany and the U.S. face
the same challenge of dealing with the international movement
of people across borders in ever-increasing numbers exactly when
the social and economic fabric is going through significant transformation.
It is a highly complex process of managing both the enforcement
of laws and supporting the promotion of social and economic integration.”
The author gives brief overviews regarding the immigration debate
in Germany and in the United States. Dr. Jackson Janes is
the Executive Director of the American Institute for Contemporary
German Studies at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington.
Fulltext
F5 - The Indispensable Partnership
Drozdiak, William
Internationale Politik, Spring 2006, v7, pp9-14
“The United States and Europe need to realize that they can transform
their cold war alliance into a new kind of global partnership,
one that is truly indispensable for a peaceful world order.” William
Drozdiak is a former foreign editor and chief European correspondent
for the Washington Post. Order
article
F6 - Turning the Page: Prospects for German-American
Relations After Schröder
Szabo, Stephen F.
Internationale Politik, Spring 2006, v7, pp20-26
"Europe faces a choice between an Atlanticist and a Gaullist
future. Germany holds the balance in that choice. While the former
closeness of the special relationship is gone, Germany can navigate
a path between Paris and Washington, and mediate between them.
Chancellor Merkel will have to revive the US-German relationship
gradually–and under new terms." Stephen Szabo is Professor
at John Hopkins University and a visiting Professor at the Hertie
School of Government in Berlin. Order
Article
F7 - The Change in Government and Transatlantic Relations
Janes, Jackson
German Politics and Society, Spring 2006, Issue 78, v 24,
#1, online edition
"The story of the last five decades in German-American relations
testifies to more continuity than abrupt changes, largely due
to the constraints imposed by the framework of post World War
II geopolitics and by self-imposed norms and institutions that
both Germans and Americans have placed on that framework..."
On the eve of Angela Merkel's second visit to the United States
this year, the author examines the historical context of post-World
War II German-American relations and how former Chancellors and
Presidents have shaped them. He analyses Chancellor Merkel’s domestic
and foreign policy challenges and regards them as opportunities
to foster and renew the transatlantic relationship. Dr. Jackson
Janes is the Executive Director of the American Institute for
Contemporary German Studies at the Johns Hopkins University in
Washington. Fulltext
F8 - 2006 Will Provide Clues to Europe’s Future
Dale, Reginald ; Niblett, Robin
Center for Strategic and International Studies, Euro-Focus,
April 5, 2006, v12,#1, 8p
The authors discuss the main issues to watch this year: economic
retreat from Brussels, the future of the constitution, discord
over enlargement, tackling Europe’s internal insecurity, foreign
and security policy, and transatlantic relations. ”Three months
into 2006, Europeans are entering a period in which they are no
longer able to evade hard but vital decisions about their future.
Choices made this year will indicate whether European governments
are serious about economic reform, whether they can recover their
sense of institutional direction and ease growing levels of social
insecurity, and whether they can live up to the EU’s growing geopolitical
ambition. In each area, EU members are taking important steps
forward, but in each case, the outcome remains highly uncertain.”
Reginald Dale is a senior fellow in the CSIS Europe program.
Robin Niblett is executive vice president of CSIS and director
of the CSIS Europe program. Fulltext
F9 - Conflict Conundrums
Potier, Tim
The National Interest, Spring 2006, #83, pp88-92
In this article the author gives examples of different U.S. policies
regarding “Europe's unresolved disputes -- Kosovo's bid for independence,
the breakaway regions of Georgia. [They] present the US and other
global and regional powers with a policy dilemma: how to balance
a people's call for autonomy with a desire to maintain the territorial
integrity of existing states and preserve regional stability.
A US decision to support autonomy in one area, such as Kosovo,
could embolden demands for independence by other groups. Here,
the author remarks that US policymakers can either apply guiding
principles in brokering or mediating those disputes, or consider
each case independently in light of US geopolitical interests.”
Tim Potier is Assistant Professor of international law and
human rights at Intercollege (University College) in Nicosia,
Cyprus. Fulltext
F10 - Europe's Mosque Hysteria
Walker, Martin
The Wilson Quarterly, Spring 2006, v30, # 2, pp14-22
Despite the current clashes between Europe and its Islamic immigrants,
i.e. the riots in France, the cartoon controversy and honor killings,
the author argues that Europe is far from “doomed to religious
division, mass terrorism, white backlash, and civil war”. The
author debunks several myths regarding Islamic immigrants in Europe,
such as the existence of a unified European Islam, the threat
of an immigrant baby boom that will lead to an Islamic majority
in Europe and, finally, the proposition that the European social
model together with economic growth is failing due to the large
numbers of immigrants. Walker calls particularly on Britain, France
and Germany to tackle unemployment, low birth rates and other
issues in lieu of expounding the problems of Islam. In the long
term, he would like to see Europe taking the American response
to the civil rights movement as an example to solve their societies’
problems. .” Martin Walker is editor of United Press International
and a former Wilson Center public policy fellow. Fulltext
F11 - NATO's Future Role in International Peace Keeping
McCain, John
Hampton Roads International Security Quarterly, Special Issue
II/2006, April 15, 2006, pp45-47
This special issue on NATO contains the major statements made
by American, European, and Asian participants of the 42nd Munich
Conference on Security Policy held in early February 2006. The
key issues at the conference were the future of NATO and the nuclear
conflict with Iran.
Fulltext articles
F12 - Divided We Fall
Kitfield, James
National Journal, April 8, 2006, v38, #14, pp18-23
“The article discusses the greater strategic cooperation among
the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in
the war against Islamic extremism. The U.S. and the capitals of
Europe have forged a degree of strategic consensus, recognizing
the significance of a Western alliance which was weakened by divisions
over the Iraq war. It compares the response of the West to Iran's
nuclear brinkmanship and to the Iraq War. It presents the differing
views on the decision of NATO to assume greater control of military
operations in Afghanistan.” James Kitfield is defense and
foreign affairs correspondent for National Journal. Fulltext
|
