Determinants and Features of International Alliances and Structural Partnerships

The end of the Cold War resulted not only in the collapse of the communist regimes in Europe but also in fluctuating transatlantic relations once NATO’s foe was gone. Today, with the US struggling with a reeling economy and the EU mired in the Eurozone crisis, the number of possible trajectories of the transatlantic partnership has increased. By bringing in the discussion on security communities, this paper conceptualizes the determinants – interests, identities, interdependencies and institutions – of the transatlantic bond. Depending on the specific configuration of such determinants, the relationship between the US and Europe may be expected to alternatively drift apart, evolve into a functional cooperation, or transform into an enduring partnership.

Documento prodotto nell'ambito del progetto IAI Transworld.