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Open Think Tank Articles
Heinrich Bonnenberg: A broader definition of ‘Europe’ needs to be developed if it is to be competitive against other dynamic regions. For Europe to come together, a new identity based on past, present, and future values needs to be developed. In so doing, Europe will not only overcome divisions and prejudices, but it will also establish itself as a strong international competitor.
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Jeremy Shapiro & Nick Witney: Europe needs to start acting as a unified collective if it is to become a credible and strategic partner for the US. If Europe does not step up, the US will look for other partners.
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Raffaello Pantucci: Greater coordination on Central-South Asia would be a boon to European and US interests in the region. Unfortunately, such coordination is still lacking and we are unlikely to see a greater push from the EU. More European involvement in any sort of “civilian surge” would be welcome, but will be unrealistic until the security situation is stabilized.
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Donald K. Bandler and Jakub Kulhanek: A weak Russia constitutes a liability for the future as a scenario of political and economic upheaval becomes likely. Consequently, Moscow’s weakness domestically could then become a global crisis and pose a major threat to international peace and security.
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Shuja Nawaz: Following the death of Baitullah Mehsud Pakistani leaders face a number of challenges. Will they be able to make an offensive against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)? Will they be able to resist US pressure to “do more” against the Afghan Taliban? Will they muster the troop strength and the resolve to move against the TTP in South Waziristan?
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Marc Saxer: To use of the window of opportunity for establishing effective global governance, Europeans should accept that not all countries are willing to cede their sovereignty, but should work to increase the representation of emerging powers in multilateral structures.
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Editorial Team: We have all heard that America and Europe are worlds apart. But a careful look at social statistics shows that the US is just as “European” as any country in the EU. With the rise of conservative governments in Europe and the new social movement springing up around the Obama Administration, it is time to reconsider current world views.
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Christoph Suess: If someone had said two years ago that the US would have largely withdrawn its forces from Iraqi cities by now, he would have been called naive. Nobody here in Europe believed that the Iraqis would be able to handle their own security so soon. Given that, Europe’s silence on the latest US move is suspicious.
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Rudi Guraziu: The demise of the Cold War seems to have boosted the salience of regionalism across the globe, and RTAs have blossomed since then. But is regionalism a help or a hindrance in the process of globalization?
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Marc Lewis Thomas: Future British participation in European Union could be called into question by the results of the EU Parliamentary elections. There are some feasible outcomes for Britain vis-à-vis EU participation in the context of domestic and European issues.
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Editorial Team: Does one achievement stand out as a significant development at the infancy of the Obama presidency’s foreign policy, or have the early signs of progress been exaggerated out of context? Take part in our poll and vote what you think Obama’s greatest achievement has been.
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Editorial Team: Atlantic Community members have voted: NATO, Russia and the international trade order are at the top of the transatlantic agenda. We will use these results as the map for our thematic focus in 2009.
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Jordan Michael Smith: The unprecedented enthusiasm with which the election of President Obama has been received in Europe is destined to sink when European and American interests conflict. Measures can, however, be applied on both sides of the Atlantic to secure the positive development of the Euro-American relationship.
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Julianne Smith: The next US president will ask NATO allies for more troops in Afghanistan. Europe should respond by at least providing more police trainers, civilian reconstruction experts and new diplomatic initiatives.
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Parag Khanna & Alpo Rusi: Despite the Irish no vote, the EU’s destiny is to lead the world on security, trade and climate change. Increasingly, globalization requires structure and organization on the local level, and the EU, which benefits from high credibility, is setting standards for other regions around the world.
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D. Korski & R. Gowan: In Europe, a consensus is emerging that more should be done for Iraq. If Europeans satisfactorily align with US policies in the region and if the US makes the most of this opportunity, this could significantly revitalize transatlantic relations.
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Daniel Korski & Richard Gowan: Away from the limelight and with other world events getting the media’s attention, the situation in Kosovo has been getting worse and worse. And it all started so well with the EU managing to get a consensus for its ESDP mission and two-thirds of EU states backing the province’s independence.
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Hans-Ulrich Klose: Mistakes have been made on both the Russian and the Western sides. Russia should now be approached as an equal rather than looked down upon or scolded for non-democratic ways.
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Michèle Schmiegelow: Asia’s integration has advanced considerably. Europe could benefit from Asia’s strategic pragmatism.
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Memo 2: Members of the Atlantic Community commented and wrote articles on energy and development policy as well as G8 enlargement at the time of the G8 summit.
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Global Must Read Articles
According to the latest scientific research, the climate is warming more rapidly than previously anticipated, not least because the oceans are progressively losing their ability to absorb CO2. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) warns that controlling costs for climate change will be possible only until 2020. After that date, global warming will have passed a tipping point
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Reports by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism, Xenophobia and the Runneymede Trust demonstrate that there is widespread Islamophobia in Europe. ++ Dominant views on the place of religion in society should be reconsidered and religion should acquire a legitimate place in the public sphere. ++ Islam should be recognized legally and not be considered a threat to European values. ++ Diversity
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Europe survives the worst crisis of the last 50 years to bounce back stronger. ++ Renewed solidarity between EU members limited protectionism and encouraged interdependence as shown by the bailout of Latvia. ++ Lisbon Treaty cause is strengthened by united response from members. ++ Euro is now a possibility for Denmark, Sweden & Switzerland with membership offering protection from a future
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The financial crisis evoked the necessity of a rebalancing of the global power equilibrium and of Europe’s status in it. ++ “Nowadays, there is both too much and too little Europe”. ++ While European countries are overrepresented in the world’s premier forums, Europe lacks influence, because of its heterogeneity. ++ “The absurdity of Italy’s presence in the
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The fight against climate change proclaimed by European Members of Parliament will have little effect. ++ “Even a great new agreement in Copenhagen is insufficient… [yet] necessary.” ++ The climatic challenge demands a profound reconsideration of political, scientific, and economic agendas. ++ Despite a better-informed public and a slow improvement in the handling of natural
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Opponents of missile defense argue unpersuasively that “there is no near-term, long-range Iranian missile threat and the proposed US system could not defeat such a threat anyway.” ++ Yet Iran continues to buy crucial materials and make progress in their missile tests. ++ The US plan includes state-of-the-art radar and interceptors, and there is no reason to believe they would not work
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Barack Obama should stop apologizing for his country because it’s weakening the US and making it more vulnerable to attack. ++ Obama wants to engage enemies through the application of “smart power” but recent missile tests by Iran and North Korea show there’s nothing smart in “appeasing rogue states.” ++ The US is increasingly “jeered rather than feared” by enemies. ++ The world needs a
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Jonathan Laurence is a Transatlantic Academy fellow at the German Marshall Fund, non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and an assistant
professor of political science at Boston College. He has received his Ph.D. (2006) and M.A. (2003) from Harvard University’s department of government. See www.jonathanlaurence.net for
more info.
1.
What are your main priorities at
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Despite decades of institutional development seeming to create a more integrated Europe, the continent remains more divided than united. ++ Europe’s different cultures are not spoken of because it is politically incorrect to do so. ++ Today, Europe’s political composition obscures the cultural emphasis with which it began. ++ Some Eurocrats seem to be forcing unity onto the people. ++ The
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India’s reliance on Russia for defense equipment is largely ineffective and increasingly dangerous. ++ The entire Russian fleet of MiG-29 is seen to suffer structural defects and adds to the fact that “Russia’s defense manufacturing base is facing shortfalls in capabilities and capacities.” ++ This effects India in terms of missed deadlines, greater expense and harms
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Hillary Clinton is in Brussels, but “will trans-Atlantic relations soon be sunshine and roses again” as hoped in the European capital? ++ For the time being it doesn’t look like it; Europe continues to feel ignored and America acts alone. ++ Yet, experts believe that the US will seek European help on the Russian dossier and has high expectations on Berlin. ++ Germany has a “vested interest in a
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The argument that France would lose its diplomatic freedom and image of independent power by re-integrating into the military structure of NATO is unfounded. ++ It would assure France a better defense of its national interests. ++ NATO is a consensus based alliance and every country’s view is considered in the decision-making process. ++ More importantly, NATO is about to delineate a new
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Behind its image of Eurocapital, seducing people from all over the globe, Brussels is in many ways comparable to a city of a developing country. ++ Dirty, bad economic conditions; 35% of the people aged under 25 are unemployed and this number rises significantly for foreigners. ++ According to Eurostat only three regions rank worse on the European continent ++ But who can help Brussels? ++ The
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The gas war has highlighted the urgency of building the Nabucco pipeline. ++ This is good news for Baku as its role in the energy world is likely to increase drastically: it would provide the infrastructure for transporting gas westwards. ++ Yet, the guarantee for success is not certain: Nabucco is not an antidote against energy disputes with Russia as it will also rely on gas from Central Asian
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A lot has happened recently, but the event which still steals the thunder is the election of President Obama and the new foreign policy he has designed for the US. ++ The Munich Security Conference offers confirmation; Biden came to Europe and promised that the US will “listen” and “engage” Europe and also attempt to improve relations with Russia. ++ But in promising a
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The long proclaimed transatlantic divide
between bloated European welfare states and a lean US government is mythical at best. A
closer look at the facts shows that the social expenditures of the United Sates
and Europe are very similar on healthcare and
education. The Reagan revolution and subsequent “small government” are
illusions, and indeed the only significant difference between the US
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The Russia-Ukraine gas supply conflict was heightened following Russia’s decision to further reduce gas supplies as a response to Ukraine “stealing” gas aimed for European clients. ++ Ever since the end of the 2005 Orange Revolution in Ukraine, Russia has been using its gas resources as a political weapon. ++ The policy decision will bring Europe under strain, but the cost for
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Moscow’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia does not correlate with universal approval, and an international dialogue concerning the status of Georgia is set to begin. ++ Europe has proven itself too dissolute to confront Russia openly: Sarkozy has advocated global mediation, emphasizing Georgia’s weakness, and Merkel speaks of “Georgia’s core territory,” nearly cow-towing to the Russian
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A poll revealed that Americans and Europeans were troubled over the growing power of Russia even before the attack on Georgia. ++ Respondents in Europe and the US were united in concern about the Kremlin providing weapons to the Middle East, Russia’s energy monopoly, and its behavior toward its neighbors. ++ What they don’t agree upon is how to respond to the Kremlin’s new assertiveness;
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Conflict in Georgia proved that Russia isn’t and doesn’t want to be a part of Europe. ++ Moscow rejects European commitment to nonviolent methods of conflict resolution and shows little appreciation for equality of nations, which is a fundamental principle on the Old Continent. ++ Kremlin trusts in the “hierarchy of raw power.” ++ This mindset is anachronistic for the 21st century and
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The Atlantic view that it’s necessary to protect the underdog from its powerful neighbour is isolated; most of the world is bemused at Western double standards and sees Russia as bullied by the West. ++ Events in Georgia show that the West lacks strategic thinking. ++ Instead of dealing with Russia, Western thinkers should decide what the greatest long-term challenge is – China or the
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Of all the post-Soviet states, Georgia has come furthest in the fight to strenghten democracy and independent foreign policy and that is precisely what Russia wants to thwart. ++ The fact that Russia was entrusted with the peacekeeping and mediating in Abkhazia and South Ossetia makes the violation of international norms even more appalling. ++ This war is not only about Georgia’s
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There are two rumors regarding the US elections: the first one says that if a candidate travels abroad he becomes inaccessible to “ordinary” Americans. ++ Considering the positive image which Americans have of Europeans, this assumption seems to be ill-informed. ++ The second one assumes that Americans want their president to maintain an arm’s distance relationship with our Allies and it can’t be
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Even if the Bush administration used to neglect it, 2009 can be the “hour of Europe.” ++ If Germany, Great Britain, and France would propose serious new contributions, the new administration would listen and offer the Europeans the “leadership” they so often say they desire. ++ Unfortunately, only few European statesmen look on changes in Washington as an opportunity to propose something new.
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Obama’s popularity last
Thursday showed the desire for a responsible global power and the unwavering belief that the US should be that power. ++ But the charisma of the presidential candidate should not blur our view of the other Obama: the Realpolitiker. ++ In his speech, he made clear that neither can the US be an arrogant superpower, nor can Europe neglect its military duties, e.g. in
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The German magazine Der Spiegel featured articles about Barack Obama with such satiric headlines as “The Messiah Factor” or “Germany Meets the Superstar.” ++ These examples show that Europeans are far less excited about Obama than Americans, even if they are also looking forward to the end of the Bush administration. ++ The mocking undertone that accompanies most descriptions of Obama in the
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“A US willingness to talk to Iran on the full range of issues dividing the two countries offers the best hope of rescuing a failed policy.” ++ If the US does not negotiate with Iran as proposed by Obama, they will be lacking options besides attacking Iran. ++ The Europeans, Russia, and China are already in dialogue with Teheran. ++ After coordinating with the Europeans, the US should start
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Obama enjoys astonishing and unprecedented support in Europe. ++ The anti-Americanism fueled by Bush may have subsided, but this international popularity is not necessarily beneficial for a candidate who primarily needs to convince the electorate at home. ++ Europeans would be wise to lower their expectations: “once a President Obama engages with America’s allies, he will also expect them to
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Some of the 350 US nuclear bombs in the EU are stored at host air bases. ++ A report concludes security standards were not met, and “support buildings, fencing, lighting and security systems” need improvement. ++ The storage of nukes in Europe has always been controversial, and sometimes kept secret - in Belgium for example. ++ The issue of security standards in Europe provided for renewed
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Concerning the Iranian enrichment program, international attention shouldn’t exclusively be on the receiving country. ++ Indian and European companies deliver nuclear supplies to Iran. ++ Tightening up control over European nuclear industries and doing so transparently, while enlisting the cooperation of Russia and China in this effort is necessary to stop Iranian nuclear weapon
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Europe needs Russia for its oil and natural gas and Russia needs Europe for revenue from these resources. ++ This reciprocal relationship explains Europe’s opposition to granting Ukraine and Georgia NATO membership. ++ The issue of energy security is one of the few issues where central and eastern European countries agree with the US and are in conflict with Germany and France.
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Still depending on US hard power, Europe has found a new role in the soft power balance to the US. ++ Europe can’t continue in this role with a new President Obama. ++ Obama’s US would gain international reputation and call in Europe for more hard power burden sharing. ++ But the US remains the indispensable nation so far. ++ Therefore Obama’s US is best for Europe because it will become a strong
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The US is historically isolationist at heart - this has only been interrupted by
events such as WWII and 9/11. ++ The toll of the war in Iraq is leading many Americans to again turn to isolationism. ++ No matter who becomes president, they will begin the withdrawal of America from the world, leaving Europe to fill its role and face the responsibility of containing radical Islam alone.
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Obama’s speech on race spoke to Europe and provided insights into the imperfections of US democracy. ++ Obama succeeded in addressing the problems of his nation, something which is rarely accomplished
in Europe. ++ The bureaucratic language which fills European politics fails to clearly discuss or solve societal issues as is made clear in Germany by the mental wall which is being built between
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Britain’s new US-style national security strategy (NSS) should provide for better risk assessment, more troops, and more funds. ++ Unfortunately, the NSS only makes casual reference to Europe and features a continuing belief in security autarky. ++ The NSS requires cooperation with EU members for manpower, resources, and especially to bolster Britain when addressing the Russian and Chinese
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Ted R. Bromund of Yale University explains that liberal US think tanks (and their budgets) are expanding rapidly and notes that the Brookings Institution “has grown by 50 percent over the past two years.” Conservative American think tanks are not fairing so well, but when compared to similar European institutions, all American think tanks regardless of political affiliation appear wealthy. This
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Europe has become heavily reliant on Russia to meet its energy needs. This trend undermines Europe’s self-confidence and jeopardizes its geopolitical position as well as that of the United States, says Ariel Cohen from the Heritage Foundation.
Russia’s agenda seeks to perpetuate dependence by consolidating Gazprom’s position at home and abroad. As foreign companies such as Shell and BP fail to
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As a community based on values, the West must strengthen its cohesiveness in order to grapple with the pace of globalization, and face a geopolitical axis actively shifting toward Asia, argues Stephen Szabo, executive director of the Transatlantic Academy, which is a partnership between the German Marshall Fund and the Bucerius Zeit Stiftung.
A division of the West could prove
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William H. Taft and Frances G. Burwell from the Atlantic Council advise the EU and US to coordinate their positions before the ICC review conference in 2009. The transatlantic partners must set an example for the rest of the world.
With the review conference on the International Criminal Court (ICC) coming up in 2009, a concerted transatlantic effort to build global consensus on international
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J. Paul Horne of the European Institute reports that, after decades of US financial dominance, economic developments in Asia have driven down American GDP’s percentage scale of the global market. He suggests that the US initiate reforms to protect against emerging market power in Asia as well as in the European Union.
Reports by McKinsey as well as
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