The choreographing of a renewed Euro-American relationship
Europe and the United States have, for a brief time, broken off the Waltz that choreographed the global order of the past Century. America, increasingly dissatisfied with the economic and geopolitical order it built after the Second World War, threatens tariffs, withdrawal from multi-lateral trade, defence and environmental agreements, and a retreat from the world. Europe, too, has its woes: resurgent nationalist sentiment, lagging productivity, and disagreements over the role of American tech giants, to name a few.
Envisioning the future of this Euro-American relationship could take two forms, depending on the sense accorded to the word “envision”. Both suggest strengthened Euro-American dialogue, policy and governance. A renewed commitment to the Waltz, in other words.
To “envision” means, in one sense, to visualise a future course of events. Look beyond the fiery rhetoric of politicians on both sides of the Atlantic and what becomes evident is a recognition of the need to work together if each is to achieve their respective and shared goals. A moratorium ultimately fell on Trump’s sweeping European tariffs. Continental officials asserted not a desire to retreat from the US, but to highlight mutual-dependencies and areas for potential growth.
Extrapolating forward, this points to heightened co-operation in the environmental sciences, climate change, and tech governance, even if future rhetoric retains a nationalistic tone. Collaboration might take the form of enhanced scientific data-sharing, new forums to coordinate policy responses, and the reshaping of post-War institutions to address nascent technological and environmental challenges. Inspiration might be drawn from the Marshall Plan, which furthered both American and European interests in the context of a power vacuum that parallels current debates about democratic governance. The EU-US Trade and Technology Council could also be cited as a benchmark for co-operation. Ultimately, our generation must institutionalise this vision by creatively building and leading transatlantic structures that endure beyond electoral cycles.
Yet even if the logic points towards stronger ties between the US and Europe, there is no guarantee that politicians will follow it. “America First” or “Europe First” does not negate the fact that global problems require global collaboration. But politics isn’t always rational. We must therefore consider the other sense of the word “envision”, which is to contemplate a desirable future.
That future is grounded in the shared Euro-American values of human flourishing, progress, and freedom. It is grounded in an understanding that the rule-of-law and ideals of universal education are sacrosanct, and that Europe and America must work together if we are to advance these ends. Each can learn from the other: America promises to teach the value of entrepreneurship and (small-r) republicanism; Europe promises to teach a certain savoir-vivre and how strong environmental and commercial governance serve only to advance the productive uses of innovation.
Realising this vision requires us, tomorrow’s global leaders, to grasp, deliberate and apply this ideal such that the next sequence of this elegant Euro-American waltz may unfold. It points to a brighter, more collaborative future.
This essay was my submission to the SciencesPo American Foundation’s annual essay contest and won first prize.
The original prompt was: “how do you envision the relationship between Europe and the United States evolving over the next 20 years, particularly in the face of shared challenges like climate change, AI, and the future of democratic governance? What role do you believe your generation should play in shaping this transatlantic future?”
