The drift in the transatlantic relationship: causes of growing European anti-Americanism

Since the end of WWII, the prevalence and salience of anti-Americanism has waxed and waned across Europe. However, this sentiment has never permeated the masses—until recently. At the turn of the 21st century, European anti-Americanism drastically rises. Investigations into the declining American popularity have revealed record high disapproval ratings for the US. Europeans are finding the US and Americans more unfavorable and untrustworthy. What could have caused of such a drastic shift? The Bush administration has always been highly unpopular throughout Europe. Therefore, an examination of its foreign policy initiatives and public diplomacy efforts could shed some light on not only the causes of rising anti-Americanism, but also the permanence of this shift