ABSTRACT
Contemporary transatlantic relations are at its lowest point since the end of the Second World War. This chapter contrasts underlying ideational factors in the transatlantic relationship, taking into account the subtle implications of critical theories concerning ideology and discourse, as well as the (non-)material consequences of hegemonic social, economic, and political power. Ranging from the Frankfurt School's concerns about ideologies to Gramsci's notion of cultural hegemony, to Foucault's linkage of power to knowledge, critical theories have received increasing attention as they consistently were able to make sense of the various European crises throughout the 20th century. In the context of transatlantic relations, they help broaden the often myopic focus on material resources and geopolitical threats, recognisable in conventional transatlantic analyses. In terms of citizens and the publics, the EU is well advised to examine its relations to member state governments.
