Abstract
The Trump Administration’s “America First” foreign policy presented a challenge to the post-WWII United States’ (US) led Atlantic Alliance. However, with war in Ukraine has come a renewed sense of unity between the US and its Alliance partners. Western governments have forged a unified response to address the crisis. Divergent interests within the Atlantic Alliance members have been growing long before this war, however. Long standing underlying differences in critical interests between the US and Europe (EU) exist. Further, there are signs that suggest that the apparent unity within NATO currently may be transitory. Using historical, theoretical, and empirical approaches this analysis seeks to assess the degree to which relative power configurations have a determinative effect on state interests and the state’s foreign policy. The analysis critically assesses these questions and proposes that consideration of power differentials of states in pursuing national interests is vital to understanding state behavior.
Presenters
William DavisAssociate Professor, Government and Foreign Affairs, Walsh University, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Atlantic Alliance, NATO, Security Policy, Ukraine
