The US and Europe: continental drift?

This article is an edited version of the second C. Douglas Dillon Lecture o n European-American relations delivered at Chatham House on 24 June 1999 by Joseph S. Nye Jr, in which he analyses future relations between Europe and the United States. Despite the lack of a mutual threat in the form of Sovi et aggression, the author believes there is still enough common ground betw een the two for the relationship to be sustained. However, he is very much aware of current counter-arguments and acknowledges that the bickering will continue. Drawing on the works of Stephen Walt and Robert Blackwill, among others, Joseph Nye outlines where and why difficulties in the relationship could appear. He points to the areas of economics, culture, diplomacy and defence cooperation where potential rifts might occur and offers suggestion s on ways to reduce the friction. His conclusion is optimistic: divorce is not in the offing.