2005 Articles

Romania, Bulgaria, The United States and the European Union: The Rules of Empowerment at the Outskirts of Europe

Neacsu, Dana

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States came to Eastern Europe spreading the gospel of democracy and the American Rule of Law. In addition to encouraging Western ideology, the United States was there to forge new economic relationships and, following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to accelerate the creation of military alliances through membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the newly-formed "coalition of the willing." Romania and Bulgaria, among other former Soviet satellites, welcomed the invitation. Romania and Bulgaria are small countries which share similar economic pressures as they attempt to emerge from troubled political histories. When the United States, with its military budget of $ 399 billion, approached Romania and Bulgaria seeking support for its global war against terror, both countries experienced a major transformation on a local and international level. In what seems like a perfect example of Andy Warhol's notoriety allotment, for fifteen minutes the West gazed at them in disbelief.