Transatlantic Relations: the U.S.A. and the E.U.

DESCRIPTION AND GOALS
The first aim of this course will be to settle the general framework for the relations between the US and the EU. In order to do so, we will analyze the landmark documents: the Transatlantic Declaration (1990), the New Transatlantic Agenda (1995), and the Transatlantic Economic Partnership (1998).
We will analyze the economic relations between those partners. The transatlantic flow of goods, services and investments is of highest importance. In those fields, the relationship is usually easy, but there are recurrent problems like steel, aviation industry or GMO. Part of those conflicts are addressed in the WTO.
We will then study the point of view of the US and the EU concerning environment, and more precisely their approach to global warming, a well-known field of divergence.
The course will also study how the issue of fighting terrorism is handled by both partners. The 9/11 attacks are a milestone in the response given by western democracies to international terrorism. Problems and solutions in this field are seen in a different way from each side of the Atlantic.
Finally, we will focus on the foreign affairs policy. Dilemmas like hard power versus soft power and unilateralism versus multilateralism will be exposed and studied in light of different documents. Especial attention will be devoted to the topic of defense.


SYLLABUS

Week 1
What Is the European Union?
1. A polity in the making.
2. Intergovernmental v. Supranational
International Organizations.
3. Consequences.

Weeks 2/3
1.- Introduction. From Mars and from Venus: public opinion analysis

Weeks 4/5
2.- US-EU relations: a historical overview
1. The US role in the first steps of European Integration.
2. The Transatlantic Declaration 1990.
3. The New Transatlantic Agenda 1995.
4. The network of mechanisms established since then.

Weeks 6/7/8/9
3.- Foreign affairs and Defence
1. The pros and cons of the American unilateralism
2. The limitations of the European “soft power approach”
3. The US National Security Strategy and the European Security Strategy: a comparison.
4. The role of NATO

Weeks 10/11/12
4.- Economic relations
1. Introduction. Analysis of statistics
2. Trade negotiations: bilateral relationship and the WTO.
3. The Transatlantic relations in investments and the financial services.

Weeks 13/14
5.- Human Rights protection
1. The US and the ICC
2. The role of the international mechanisms for the protection of human rights
3. ‘Regional multilateralism’ versus ‘global unilateralism’.

METHODOLOGY
Classes will be based on lectures and the discussion of different readings that students will need to previously do at home. Students are expected to actively participate in the classes, and to write several essays to be assigned throughout the course. All this, together with the final exam, will determine their final grade.

ASSESSMENT
The final grade will be calculated according to the following percentages:
Assignments: 20%
Essays: 30%
Participation: 10%
Final exam: 40 %
NOTE: Class attendance is essential in all courses. Therefore, it will be checked daily. Missing classes will negatively affect the student?s final grade.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Andrews, D. M.; Pollack, M.; Shaffer, G.; Wallace, H. (eds.), The Future of Transatlantic Economic Relations: Continuity amid Discord, Robert Schuman Centre for Advances Studies, 2005.
- Brimmer, E. (ed.), Defending the Gains? Transatlantic Responses When Democracy is Under Threat, Center for Transatlantic Relations, Washington, D.C., 2007.
- Cooper, R., The Breaking of Nations: Order and Chaos in the Twenty-first Century, Atlantic Books, London, 2003.
- Garton Ash, T. , Free World: America, Europe and the Surprising Future of the West, Penguin Books, 2005.
- Glenn, J. K., ?Will America?s Image Recover in Europe? Understanding public opinion since 9/11?, GMF Paper Series, March 2008.
- Kagan, R., Of Paradise and Power: America and Europe in the New World Order, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.
- Keylor, William R., A World of Nations: The international order since 1945, Oxford, 2003.
- Purvis, N., ?Narrowing the Transatlantic Climate Divide. A Roadmap for Progress?, GMF Paper Series, June 2008.
- Real Instituto Elcano, El futuro de la cooperación Unión Europea-OTAN, 2008.
- Steinberg, F., ?The economic relations between the European Union and the United States?, Real Instituto Elcano ARI 16/2008, Date: 5/3/2008.