Deep Ideological Forces Cause the Transatlantic Rift

N. Sharansky, Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies, Jerusalem | June 17

Whereas Europeans believe strong national or religious identities are detrimental to democracy, for Americans, expression of identity is a fundamental right. ++ This conflicting understanding of identity and democracy precedes the Bush era and will survive the election of someone new to the White House. ++ As a result of the fundamentalist threat, we are more likely to witness the resurgence of European national and religious identities than the adoption of a "sophisticated postnational, postmodern and multicultural attitude" in the US.