Continental Drift: Are the United States and Europe Really That Similar?

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In a Cato Institute release titled “ A Post-American Europe,” writers Justin Logan and Joshua Shifrinson argue the United States’ role in Europe has largely changed since World War. In their view, it’s time for Europeans to take control of their own destiny.

A debate on U.S. and Euro relations is overdue, say Logan and Shifrinson. The United States’ objective since the early 20th century is clear: “keeping the continent’s economic and military power divided.” While important in the past, Europe in 2024 looks far different.

A Changed Continent

Modern history is never forgotten in Europe; the European Union (EU) was just another step toward ensuring it never repeated itself. Europe’s wall of checks and balances, namely the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), wouldn’t allow the rise of characters like Mussolini and Hitler. 

With its foreign policy goals achieved, there is no reason for such a heavy U.S. military presence in the region — not least its role with NATO. The Cato op-ed suggests the U.S. should “Europeanize NATO, and hand principal responsibility for European security back to its rightful owners: the Europeans.” 

The European Relationship

Europeans generally hold a positive view of the U.S. A 2023 Pew Research Center poll suggests 56% of Europeans hold a favorable view of America. Hungarians had the lowest view at 44%, while Polish citizens showed an impressive 93% positive perception. 

This dynamic differs from 2020 ratings, with three European countries — Sweden, Netherlands, and Poland — giving the U.S. a negative rating.

Comparing the US and Europe

Distinct similarities exist between both subcontinents, like:

• Political systems: The U.S. and Europe share varying forms of democracy, though America’s presidential republic is rare across the Atlantic. All EU27 states are presidential or constitutional republics or monarchies, devolving varying levels of authority to their presidents and prime ministers.
• Culture: for many decades, America and Europe have shared cultural similarities, especially in the arts, music, and film.
• TradeSystems: the American free market capitalist system works across Europe, with several stock markets, including the London, Paris, and Euronext stock exchanges.
• ReligiousFreedoms: Europeans fleeing religious persecution found solace in the New World. Europe and the U.S. traditionally align with common Western values based on a Judeo-Christian ethos.

Some might suggest Americans and their European counterparts are drifting in some of these criteria. While some similarities persist, certain parts of shared objectives differ.

Two Dovetailing Economies

Europe’s share (notwithstanding Brexit in 2016) of world GDP mirrors the U.S. at times. America and the EU27 maintained a similar GDP output in the mid-’00s but diverged around 2012.

America’s GDP has since soared, while Europe’s has fallen. However, some analysts say this doesn’t tell the complete story. Zsolt Darvas, senior fellow at Bruegel, argued in a late 2023 study that this doesn’t mean what it used to.

On the contrary, purchasing power parity ( PPP ) reflects each economy more fairly. In 2000, €1 was worth only $0.92; this had increased to €1.47 by 2008 — a year when EU27’s GDP rose above the U.S.

Using PPP, the growth chart looks very different — the United States and the EU have a more closely aligned spending economy. The bad news for both? Each is declining overall as China climbs ever further away.

Long Lasting Bonds

America’s cultural connections to Europe have always been strong. This tie is never more apparent than in summer, when American acts swarm European stadia. This year, recording artists such as Beyoncé, Pearl Jam, and Taylor Swift all toured the continent. 

Meanwhile, Hollywood’s hegemony over European movie theaters continues. This year, like any other, American movies dominated the top 20 highest-grossing films across most European markets. BoxOfficeMojo shows American movies’ international box office stats, including in Europe.

However, there are two areas where the United States and the EU are beginning to diverge: religion and politics.

Religious Differences

A 2023 European Values Study polled Europeans on the significance of religion in their lives. Western and Northern European nations were less connected to religion than Southern, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. 

In an EU-sponsored “ Values and Identities ” release, 36% of Europeans say religion has no part in their lives. Another 28% indicated indifference to religious conventions, stating it was neither important nor unimportant.

Contrast this change with the U.S., where a Gallup poll shows 71% of American citizens believe religion is “very important” or “fairly important.” Moreover, more Americans say they attend church in comparison to Europeans.

Political Differences

Another notable difference between the two unions is in political representation. Europe has fewer countries with a two-party-dominant political system. While European nations share similar democratic principles, many countries’ multiparty systems have evolved. 

Researchers in a Heliyon study explored why: a “developed country with a tradition of parliamentary government is more likely to possess a well-established multi-party system in a non-religious environment.”

The United Kingdom traditionally has a similar two-party-dominated system to match the U.S., though this always includes fringe parties winning seats in the House of Commons. The third-party presidential candidate is something almost uniquely American. 

The Third Party Difference

Third parties are also common across Europe: the Green Party has often won substantial parliamentary seat numbers in countries like Germany. A third-party candidate in the United States faces tougher hurdles to win an election, usually losing. Sometimes, they might sway undecided voters or draw support from one candidate’s base. Europe’s third parties have voting power, which can upset the status quo. 

The recent U.S. election could dictate how Europe and the U.S. move forward. In many campaign rallies, President-elect Donald Trump spoke about Europe’s need to pay a better portion toward NATO. However, he stopped short of declaring he would hand control over to Europe. 

With the president-elect once again measuring up the Oval Office, America and Europe’s long relationship may face another decisive moment.

This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.