The Changing Transatlantic Relationship: A Socio-Cultural Approach

Abstract

The growing rift in the transatlantic relationship will remain a problem for some time to come, largely, although not exclusively, as a result of the cultural differences that have become more pronounced between Europe and the United States. While much of the discourse on Euro-American divergences centers increasingly on disparities in the military-security domain and on differing geostrategic interests, socio-cultural differences are equally to blame for the transatlantic rift. Following a discussion on the contemporary perspectives on US–European relations, I explore three socio-cultural factors that contribute to the recent schism: the Europeanization of socialization, the emergence of Europe as a norm leader, and the diverging discourse between Europe and the United States. I argue that the way to manage transatlantic grievances more constructively is to strengthen the EU's foreign and security policy. The United States also must fully accept the existence of interlocking and overlapping institutions.