The Developement of Economic Cooperation between EU and USA since the end of the Cold War

in English This thesis deals with the factors that influence changing intensity of bilateral economic cooperation between EU and USA in the period between 2002 and 2012. The quantitative tests by correlation are made separately for the trade and the financial area of cooperation. The first tested factor was the economic interdependence of EU and USA, which is based on liberal thoughts in international relations. Its positive influence on cooperation that was assumed for this factor was confirmed only in case of the financial area. On the other hand, for the trade sphere the premise was disproved. The second tested factor was formulated based on realism in international relations. It says that decreasing economic standing of EU and USA leads to their increased cooperation. This influence was confirmed both for trade and financial cooperation. The last researched factor was the annual change in the volume of transactions. This factor is based on functionalism, neofunctionalism and communication theory. The assumed positive influence of increased transactions on cooperation was confirmed only in trade dimension. The best factor that can explain the changing bilateral economic cooperation of EU and USA between 2002 and 2012 proved to be the one based on realism - the declining standing of both subjects..