Burden Sharing and the Future of Alliances in the Context of Economic Crisis

This paper analyzes how domestic politics and economic performance will determine Europe’s role in the role in the coming decade. It highlights the main challenges Europe needs to overcome in order to keep strategic significance in the world, and avoid a widening capability gap with the United States. It argues that the future of transatlantic security cooperation will highly depends on the U.S. ability to push for an increased cooperation between European powers, and especially an enhanced integration of Germany as a strategic partner.