The Americans and Europeans continue to have a unique relationship. But what is the basis for this special affinity? The two essays in Europe and America: A Return to History probe the transatlantic past for answers and seek to draw lessons and guidance for the future.

Miles Kahler begins by questioning the prevailing narrative of transatlantic relations. He casts doubt on the widely accepted notion that the strength and durability of U.S.-European relations rest solely on a common fear of external threat. By examining periods prior to the onset of the Cold War, Kahler underscores the deep economic, ideological, and cultural roots of the transatlantic partnership and their continued importance for the future.

Werner Link makes a chronological examination of the blueprints that have shaped U.S.-European relations over the past century. By thinking through how politics and geopolitics have interacted to produce many different versions of a recurring puzzle, Link offers a useful catalogue of competing paradigms for thinking about the future.