Lecture

The quest for a common 'Western' identity to orient the global policies of the western democracies is a hallmark of our time, revealing both a heightened sense of common 'civilizational' traits and an awareness that resemblances can be deceiving. Strategic tensions are evident from clashes over Iraq, the frustrated process of 'building Europe' in the European Union, and Britain's irresolute attempts to serve as a hinge between the two sides of the Atlantic.

Equally significant, if les

Michael Brenner is Professor of International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. His books include Terms Of Engagement and Toward A More Independent Europe. He has held that most glorious of all academic appointments, Research Fellow at the Brookings Institution. And he has been Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the National Defense University.