The Differences Between Europe And The United States After The Cold War And Their Impact

The relationship between Europe and the United States has been the closest relationship among great powers,and it is undergoing drastic changes.The end of the Cold War has changed the international situation and European security landscape.Along with it comes the loss of a common enemy of Europe and the U.S.,leading to the former’s marked reduction in its security dependence on the latter.This major shift has shaken the foundations of a strong transatlantic alliance,tremendously impacting Europe and U.S.foreign policy and transatlantic relations.The Europe-US relations have entered a new era.As European integration deepens and the EU is more influential in world affairs,the EU refuses to be a subordinate partner of the U.S.but wants a bilateral relationship on an equal footing.The U.S.responses are twofold.On the one hand,the U.S.has to accept a more influential EU in regional and world affairs.On the other hand,it values its relations with the EU,while maintaining the transatlantic alliance and promoting NATO’s transformation.The EU and the U.S.have consolidated diplomatic ties through documents and mechanisms such as Declaration on EC-US Relations and the New Transatlantic Agenda,among others.Meanwhile,the EU plays a more important role in world economics and politics,while becoming more assertive in transatlantic relations.These new developments cause concerns to the U.S.over European integration.But further European integration,the U.S.argues,clashes with U.S.policy toward Europe and its strategic interests.In fact,EU expansion poses challenges to U.S.hegemony and transatlantic relations.As the EU and U.S.divide on multiple areas,such disputes are more apparent in the post-Cold War years.The evolution of the post-Cold War EU-US relations,this dissertation argues,reveals that while bilateral cooperations still maintain a strong momentum,majorcompetitions and divisions concern geosecurity,economics and global governance.These frictions are characteristic of the post-Cold War bilateral relations,and continue to play a key role in shaping future relations.The geosecurity issue has long been seen as a barometer of the EU-US relations.The post-Cold War years has witnessed dramatic changes in global landscape and European security situation.In response,the EU has deepened European integration,and built up its defense capabilities to regain dominance in European security affairs.But the U.S.still views NATO as a vehicle for its hegemony in Europe,promoting NATO strategic shift and eastward expansion.The EU and the U.S.divide on issues like the rise of Russia,European security dominance,and other major regional affairs.Agreements have been replaced by tensions and frictions.Divergences in geosecurity affairs also affect EU-U.S.relations in other issues.The post-Cold war years witnesses rapid growth of EU into 28 member stats,through eastward expansion and implementation of Euro.Economically powerful,the EU has now become a strong rival for the U.S..Competition intensifies between the EU and the U.S.over farm produce,industrial products,and international market expansion,among other issues.The adoption of euro—the official currency—poses a big challenge to U.S.dollar and U.S.financial dominance.The two parties divide on approaches to addressing European debt crisis,unable to make concerted efforts.Globalization and economic integration have given rise to global problems,such as global economic governance,global climate governance,international terrorism,and global cyberspace security.Such issues have become a new agenda in EU-US relations.The EU seeks to promote its philosophy of good governance through global governance and strengthen its influence in global affairs.In contrast,the U.S.perceives global governance as part of its global strategy.The EU and the U.S.have a perception gap and take different approaches with regard to global governance.As aresult,conflicts and frictions come from different handling of global problems by the EU and the U.S..The post-Cold War years sees Europe-US disputes in geopolitical security,economic development and global governance.Such dynamics impacts the EU-US relations and global landscape.Rift grows in the transatlantic alliance,as evidenced by breakneck competition,different security policies,and increasing tensions.These shifts make it hard to reconstruct new transatlantic ties while contributing to a multipolar world order.China puts both the EU and the U.S.on top of its foreign policy agenda.As a rising power in the international community,China’s relations with EU and the U.S.affect its world strategic situation.Europe-US disputes help expand the scope of EU-China cooperations while facilitating trilateral interactions.China is expected to objectively evaluate Europe-US disputes and seek to make such divisions work for us.It is urgently important for China to manage the trilateral relations while enhancing comprehensive national power and improving strategic power.China is also well poised to exert a rising influence in international community and contribute China’s idea and China’s practice to developing a better global governance system,jointly building a community of common destiny for all mankind.