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A short investigation into the present European and US notions of power. As Europe attempts to consolidate its power into three main functioning pillars, Europeans have an unsettling and lingering association with the concept of a European Power . Our association of power is an anachronism, a concept that is looking to the past to define a present development. The very ideals of post-modern Europe depend on the rejection of power politics and to move away together from negative liberty that has been indoctrinated by previous European imperialistic notions and current US foreign policy, towards a more positive from of liberty; the ability to achieve certain ends. The EU can be seen as the ultimate frontier of civilian power that has evolved into an international actor unlike any other superpower. One must ask, will the creation of a military force behind this civilian power of Europe pose a threat to the US s hegemonic Hobbesian power? If a clash of interests arises it will be most prominent in the institution that carries both the name of the US and Europe; NATO.

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Grattan Lynch, a graduate of International Peace Politics from Trinity College Dublin, is currently taking a PhD in Border Studies and Security Policies of the EU and US. He is presently conducting research in Sub Saharan Africa.

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