ABSTRACT
During the Cold War American policy towards Europe reflected two, often contradictory, goals. On the one hand, successive American administrations encouraged European economic integration through such policies as the Marshall Plan and subsequent support to the EEC (and British membership in the Community). On the other hand, Washington was concerned over the effects of European political integration and independent European policy initiatives that jeopardized – or had the potential of undermining – America’s unquestioned leadership of the transatlantic alliance. As Henry Kissinger put it, Americans constantly asked themselves: ‘How much unity should we want? How much diversity can we stand?’ From this premise it followed that: ‘Adjusting the balance between integration and autonomy will be the key challenge (for American policy vis-à-vis Europe).’1
