Conference paper: 'End of Post WWII Security Structure?' Annual Conference, European Consortium for Political Research, Bordeaux, France, September 4-7, 2013

Paper Presenter:

Michaela Hertkorn

Abstract:

The last 15 years have seen America's leadership capacity shrinking due to the legacy of the Bush administration, but also the state of domestic politics (increase in unemployment, tuition, social injustice, violence). The fall-out of the global financial crisis and, natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy seem to have revealed how vulnerable the supposed 'superpower' has become, more than 12 years after 9/11, and following two failed wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. What are the prospects of the second Obama administration to adjust some of the aspect of US foreign and security policy? With geo-politics seemingly 'alive and kicking' and new front lines erupting as 'blow back' for earlier wars, now (from Libya to Syria to Mali), what are the challenges for the North Atlantic security alliance and the European foreign and security policy? Can Europe afford more neo-imperial endeavors? Are the security issues at hand in North Africa, the Maghreb and the wider Middle East more of a geo-political or 'terrorism' nature? With austerity creating havoc in Southern Europe, why should the citizens of the European Union be willing to support more risky military interventions while their own socio-economic welfare is at risk and long-term stability has nowhere been created in places such as Afghanistan or Libya? Geo-political and energy interests between the US and some of its European allies, such as Germany seem to differ or be competing, at least on some front lines: is the very Euro-Atlantic security architecture that was created following WWII, coming to an end?

http://www.ecpr.eu/Events/PanelList.aspx?EventID=5&SectionID=61