Anti-Americanism in Germany at G.W. Bush's administration

After the end of the Cold War, the US remained the only superpower in the world. Along with a positive attitude there is a criticism and prejudice towards the US, called anti-Americanism. There are various definitions of anti-Americanism. The general definition of the term anti-Americanism is the opposition or hostility to policies, culture, society, economy and international role of the United States. Given the fact that the US and Germany are allies and partners in NATO it is not serious to talk about the military and political anti-Americanism. The reason of the German -US relations deterioration in the last few years could be a clash of political cultures, accelerated by active Bush's foreign policy. The approach of his administration was based on the Americanocentrism, i.e., economic and, above all, moral superiority of the United States to any other nation. For a long time, the relations between Germany and the United States were determined exclusively by military and political cooperation. After the USSR collapse and the end of the Cold War confrontation came the new phase for Berlin - Washington relations: the search for a new urgent topics that can give an impetus for transatlantic cooperation. Cooperation in the field of environmental protection could be such a topic, but revealed significant differences in the area. In culture, anti-Americanism was grounded on an understanding of the historical cultural superiority of the European countries, including Germany, over the US. At the beginning, brave, active and entrepreneurial people were needed for the North America development, education and a high level of culture were not among the essential qualities. Over time, the US became an economically developed country, the main export product of which is the "American way of life". A breeding ground for anti-Americanism is a cultural conservative-minded part of German society, as a rule, religious and nostalgic about the old days of the German cultural power. The phenomenon of anti-Americanism has a long history and a wide geography. Present in different areas of life, it plays an important role in contemporary international relations. Being a strategic partner and ally of the United States, Germany faces the existence of political, economic and cultural conditions for anti-Americanism growth. Like any other social phenomenon, anti-Americanism is adjusting to the constantly changing demands of modern society and the political agenda.

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