The dynamic trans-Atlantic partnership at the beginning of the Obama administration

This paper analyzes Robert Kagan's theory that discord is a continual part of the trans-Atlantic relationship given that the United States, as the dominant power, is willing to exert force in the world and that Europeans, with smaller militaries and a concentrated focus on peace, will be reluctant to exert influence. The aftermath of the George W. Bush administration and the beginning of the Obama Presidency provide an opportunity to assess the trans-Atlantic relationship at the conclusion of a decade filled with many points of discord. To test Kagan's hypothesis, this paper will analyze the American, U.K., and French media of varying ideologies, covering the first European trip of President Obama to Europe. These sources are analyzed for signs of convergence or divergence on US-European relations. While national differences are not negligible, it would appear that partisan ideologyhas the greatest impact on perceptions of the trans-Atlantic relationshi