While fundamental questions that have guided the work of international relations scholars, such as why people wage wars, what are the prospects for peace, or what conditions facilitate confl ict and cooperation remain unchanged, human interaction takes place in a tremendously different global context in the 21st century. As the nature of security threats changes, scholars of international relations keep investigating the human capacity to resolve confl ict and “to replace the institution of war with more effective, less brutal ways of seeking security.” 2 In exploring alternative approaches, Fry emphasizes that global interdependence demands increased reliance on cross-cutting ties that have the potential to foster cooperation to help overcome global challenges. 3

This book is centrally concerned with how transatlantic networks and the use of communication technology can enable the United States and the European Union to assume greater responsibility and a stronger leadership role in addressing global challenges. 4 The argument is that in our increasingly complex and interconnected world, network-based solutions of knowledge creation, dissemination, and the diffusion of best practices can enhance our capacity to defi ne and address policy problems more effi ciently. This research uses the transatlantic cooperative partnership as a case study and points out what we can learn from looking at EU-US relations and, within that, science and technology policy through the network perspective.