| August
2006
Transatlantic Relations | German-American Relations | European Union
F1 - Transatlantic Trends
A project of the German Marshall Fund of the United
States and the Compagnia di San Paolo with additional support
from the Fundação Luso-American, Fundación BBVA, and the Tipping
Point Foundation. September 6, 2006. Various pagings and multiple
language versions.
With nations once again on high alert and multinational forces
deployed to world hotspots, an annual survey of American and European
public opinion released today shows both Americans and Europeans
expressing shared concern over global threats. Feelings that international
terrorism is an “extremely important” threat have intensified,
with 66% of Europeans identifying it as an extremely important
threat, up from 58% last year, and 79% of Americans, up from 72%.
Both Americans (58%, up from 45%) and Europeans (52%, up from
41%) increasingly see Islamic fundamentalism as an extremely important
threat. Fulltext
F2 - Some Transatlantic Challenges
DeMuth, Christopher
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, On the Issues, posted July 24, 2006, 4p
“The governments of the United States and Western Europe collaborated successfully for many decades during the Cold War, but they now often disagree and oppose each other on important matters of policy and strategy. Beyond the government ministries, European and American economies and cultures seem to be growing apart as well. But Atlanticism nonetheless has a future--Americans and Europeans will continue to collaborate closely despite our differences and disagreements. We will do so not so much because we share a common heritage but because we face common problems today which are rooted in our heritage.” Christopher DeMuth is President of the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. Fulltext
F3 - Renewing Transatlantic Relations: The Global Euro-Atlantic Agenda
Bindenagel, J.D.
National Strategy Forum Review, Summer 2006, v15, #3, online edition
Bindenagel “writes that it is time to renew the Euro-Atlantic agenda and the international cooperation needed for a successful security strategy, especially since the debate over the Iraq war was so contentious. Bindenagel argues that a new agenda could revitalize the transatlantic relationship.” J.D. Bindenagel is a formerAambassador and served in West Germany, East Germany, and united Germany on various diplomatic assignments for the United States from 1972-2002. He is currently Vice President for Community, Government and International Affairs at DePaul University in Chicago. Fulltext
F4 - The U.S. and Germany in the United Nations: Cooperation Prospects and Conflict Potential
Johnston, Karin L.
American Institute for Contemporary German Studies, AICGS Issue Brief 08, August 2006, online edition
"The United States and Germany have long supported the United Nations. In recent years, however the two countries have a times been at loggerheads over whether or how to involve the organization in addressing international conflicts. Disagreements between the two countries have been particularly apparent in the United Nations, where they have impacted efforts to reform the organization. German leaders tend to see the UN as the cornerstone of a nascent global order, while many Americans have taken a more pragmatic view of the UN as a sometimes useful but inherently political and flawed international organization." This issue brief discusses how Germany and the United States can work cooperatively to encourage reform efforts in the United Nations. Karin L. Johnston is a Senior Research Associated at AICGS and has published on German Foreign Policy, media, and politics in Germany & the United States. Fulltext
F5 - Model or Deterrence? The United States Presidential Election Campaigns and the Bundestag Election Campaigns
Korte, Karl-Rudolf
German Politics, June 2006, v15, #2, pp153-165
"This article focuses on the election of the President of the United States of America in 2004 and on the premature election of the Bundestag in Germany in 2005. The main questions which are discussed are: Where can we currently discern central similarities in campaigning, which remain functionally powerful despite the considerable differences in system and context? What can be learned from the United States 2004 presidential election campaign for future Bundestag election campaigns in Germany? Can we observe developments in the USA which we have already seen in the 2005 Bundestag election? Could these trends be useful for the German parties in the future? This contribution argues that there are some developments in the United States which may prove useful to the German parties in future Bundestag campaigns.” Professor Dr. Dr. Karl-Rudolf Korte is Professor of political science at the University of Duisburg-Essen and is a former DAAD/AICGS Research Fellow. Fulltext
F6 - European Approaches to Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
Archick, Kristin; Ek, Carl; Gallis, Paul; Miko, Francis T.; Woehrel, Steven
The Libray of Congress, Congressional Research Service, CRS Report to Congress, RL33573, July 24, 2006, 51p
“Some U.S. policymakers and Members of Congress are taking an increasing interest in how European countries are organizing and managing homeland security issues and emergency preparedness and response, in light of both recent terrorist activity and last year's devastating Hurricane Katrina. In seeking to protect U.S. interests at home and abroad, many U.S. officials recognize that the actions or inaction of European allies can affect U.S. domestic security, especially given the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which allows nationals of many European states to travel to the United States without a visa. Some experts suggest that greater U.S.-European cooperation in the field of homeland security is necessary in order to better guarantee security on both sides of the Atlantic. This report examines homeland security and counterterrorist measures in six European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. None of these European countries currently has a single ministry or department equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In most of these countries, responsibility for different aspects of homeland security and counterterrorism is scattered across several ministries, and inter-governmental cooperation plays a key role in addressing threats and challenges to domestic security. In some countries, such as the UK, Germany, and Belgium, responsibility for homeland security affairs is also split among federal and regional or state governments.” Kristin Archick is the Coordinator. Carl Ek, Paul Gallis, Francis T. Miko, and Steven Woehrel are all with the Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division of the Congressional Research Service. Fulltext
F7 - Unemployment in Europe
Galbraith, James K.
International Politics and Society – Internationale Politik und Gesellschaft, no. 1, 2006, pp. 39-45
Drawing on the U.S. experience in achieving full employment, Galbraith shares his ideas to gain full employment in Europe. He argues that much of the variation of European unemployment can be accounted for by inequalities within and between regions, by differential growth rates, and by the share of youth in total population. The implications for the general design of unemployment policy are straightforward. ... Anything that will reduce the inequality of European wages will help reduce chronic unemployment.” He offers some practical steps to accomplish these goals. Economist James K. Galbraith holds the Jr. Chair in Government and Business Relations at LBJ School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin. Fulltext
F8 - Europe: Rising Economic Nationalism?
Ahearn, Raymond J
Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, July 6, 2006, 6p “Several members of the European Union (EU) over the past year have been erecting barriers to cross-border mergers and acquisitions, possibly in violation of their Single Market commitments. The main focus of these anti-competitive actions, often dubbed economic nationalism or economic patriotism by the press, is on corporate control, particularly in the banking, steel, and energy sectors. Unlike in the 1980s, when the main opposition to creation of the Single Market for goods, capital, labor, and services came from companies resistant to being exposed to more international competition, the main opposition to liberalization today comes from some member state governments (and or politicians) fearful of losing national prestige and jobs as a result of merger activity. This report examines the nature and significance of rising economic nationalism, as well as how U.S. interests may be affected.” Raymond J. Ahearn is Specialist in International Trade and Finance in the Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade section. Fulltext
F9 - The End of French Europe?
Kramer, Steven Phillip
Foreign Affairs, July/August 2006, v85, # 4, pp. 126-138
”When French voters rejected the proposed EU constitution last year, they revealed a profound lack of confidence not just in Europe, but in France itself. Long the driver of European integration, Paris these days can barely steer its own ship of state. Jacques Chirac is a big part of the problem. But France's troubles run deeper.” Steven Phillip Kramer is Professor of National Security Studies at the National Defense University's Industrial College of the Armed Forces. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect those of the National Defense University or the Department of Defense. Fulltext
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