Renewing the transatlantic agenda

The analysis of transatlantic EU – US relations constitutes a new field at the intersection of international relations and European integration studies. This essay discusses recent contributions to this debate emphasizing “soft” cultural and institutional factors rather than “hard” military and economic power. It argues that over the past years, the “American model” has been considerably compromised by the U.S. “culture wars” and that this has inhibited the “New Transatlantic Agenda” from developing a higher political profile. The Constitution for Europe is a prerequisite for overcoming these predicaments by strengthening European foreign policy, legislative powers and civil society participation.