International studies, Vol. XI No. 2, 2011.
Review article
The Influence of Neoconservative Worldview On Transatlantic Relations During G. W. Bush’s Presidency
Petar Kurečić
; Higher Education School for International Relations and Diplomacy, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The election of G. W. Bush to the presidency of the USA and the September 11, 2001 events gave start to a new era in transatlantic relations. Up to that moment, basic theoretic guidelines of the visi on of the World, drafted by neoconservative ideologists, were already settled. This group would play a key influence role on President Bush in matters of security, defense and foreign policy. Considering a unipolar world without areal rival as their goal, and American global power as a means to reach it, neoconservatives deeply imprinted relations between the USA and the world during Bush 's presidency. Simultaneously, they considered Europe less important than ever, and expected it to fulfill the U.S. requests, bandwagoning with the hegemonic state. Such Bush's policy caused resistances, but it also found allies in Europe. The 'division' of Europe was especially visible during the transatlantic di vide in 2002 and 2003, having as a culmination the 'coalition of the willing' in the attack on Iraq. The importance of international institutions bas been
diminished, as well as those of traditional alliances and partnerships. With the pass of time, that policy started to be discredited and defeated even in the USA, as a reflection of its defeat in international policy. Europe offered a hand to this United States, 'in sign of peace', and this transformed the former transatlantic relations - over the possible development of postatlantism - in the current phase of transatlantism, which is characterized by mutual respect and cooperation.
Keywords
G. W. Bush; neoconservatives; geopolitical ideas; transatlantic relations; unipolarism; multipolarism
Hrčak ID:
291615
URI
Publication date:
1.9.2011.
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