Transatiantic Relations

Like many of the most widely used concepts in the political science subfield of international relations, the term transatlantic relations defies precise definition and has been used to refer to a variety of historical, political, cultural, social, and economic interactions between polities, societies, institutions, groups, and individuals in Europe and North America. As such, the phenomenon, if not the term itself, stretches from the period of European exploration and colonization of the Americas, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries, through the ensuing political upheavals of the late 18th century—in particular those associated with the United States War of Independence—the consolidation and extension of U.S. power and influence across the New World in the 19th century—primarily at the expense of Spain and France—to the projection of U.S. power and influence into Europe itself. The latter process was most clearly reflected in the United States' crucial contribution to the outcomes of the two world wars of the last century and the establishment of a permanent military presence in Europe, which, although it outlived its origins in the Cold War, continues today. Because of their origins in the efforts of European powers to colonize the New World, however, transatlantic relations have never been limited to merely political or security affairs. They have always been influenced by economic and cultural interactions, with trade and immigration constituting the most important components of transatlantic relations in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The rich history of transatlantic relations and the membership of Canada in important transatlantic institutions, such as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe notwithstanding, the term today is most often used with reference to post–World War II relations between the United States and Europe. In security affairs, it primarily comprises relations between the United States and its European NATO partners. In economic affairs, the frame of reference is the United States and the members of the European Union (EU), although relations between the EU and the North American Free Trade Area are sometimes covered by the term. Generally excluded from the [Page 2652]concept are relations between Europe and Latin America as well as relations between the United States and European states that are not members of either the EU or NATO.

Following a brief summary of the major contours of transatlantic relations in the post–World War II period, this entry addresses the development of transatlantic relations after the demise of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. The discussion then turns to a survey of the major theoretical approaches to the analysis and explanation of the history and future development of transatlantic relations.