ABSTRACT
During the period of the George W. Bush presidencies, there has been continuous debate about the development of European–American relations and about the future of the Atlantic alliance. Much of this debate has been centred on the different perceptions of and dispositions towards security that can be discerned on the two sides of the Atlantic; thus we have seen the apparent opposition of ‘Mars and Venus’ and the often vicious transatlantic exchanges linked to successive crises, especially that over the decision to invade Iraq in 2003. On the other hand, and despite differences over specific policy issues, there has been apparent continuity and commonality of interests in a series of major policy areas spanning not just security, but trade, investment, and the future of the global economy.
