(via Parapundit)  Karl Zinsmeister writing for the American Enterprise on-line magazine takes on the question of divergences between the US and Europe in an article entitled "Old and In the Way"

He starts with his experience speaking at a European policy roundtable in Germany:

Throughout the two days, Pommerin set the tone with an aggressively antagonistic attitude toward all things American. "Thank God we had the 11th of September," he declared--for this showed the U.S. how it feels to be humbled. Herr professor-colonel went on to suggest that Americans often feel nostalgic for the "good old days of slavery in the nineteenth century." He told ludicrous stories about seeing empty bottles and litter piled "one meter deep" along roadsides in America, illustrating our environmental slovenliness. He insisted the seemingly mighty U.S. military was now a hollow force, all flash and no substance.

Karl provides several additional pieces of anecdotal evidence including Schroder's infamous pre-election remarks against the US.   He summarizes:

This simple reality needs to be faced squarely by Americans: In a great variety of areas--foreign policy, demography, religion, economics--Americans and Europeans are growing apart. While the September 11 attacks deepened American sobriety, patriotic feeling, and national resolution, in Europe they merely created one more flashpoint for division. European elites, already worried they won't be able to keep up with America over the next generation, are now approaching panic as the U.S. coalesces, during its September 11 recovery, into an even steelier and more determined colossus.

He presents a series of examples of these divergences including the ICC, Kyoto, ABM, theories of governance, etc.   Karl argues that the source of these divergences is 3 fold:

The philosophical differences between Europe and the U.S. are reflected and magnified in three critical structural breaks: 1) Europe has surrendered much of its economic dynamism. 2) Europe has lost its stomach for military action, substituting an exaggerated confidence in diplomacy. And, 3) Europe is on a path to population collapse.

All three of these issues are topics I've blogged about in the past -- particularly Europe's "exaggerated confidence" in diplomacy although Karl makes interesting new observations particularly in the area of relative economic growth. 

One interesting point he makes is about the types of immigrants attracted to the 2 regions & their economic integration:

Another telling indicator of economic stagnation in Europe is the fact that many or most immigrants to that continent end up on welfare. In the U.S., almost all immigrants grab entry-level jobs, frequently more than one, and work their way up the economic ladder. The easy availability of work--indeed, our economy's insatiable hunger for additional laborers--is the main force that attracts immigrants to the U.S. in the first place.

The integrated result across these divergences is a substantial weaking of European international relevance at the same time as the continent becomes more politically integrated.  And, making an argument eerily reminiscent of the various "root cause" theories tossed about in the Middle East:

Among other effects, "a weakened Europe is likely to grow more resentful toward America," warned British journalist Charles Moore in a lecture to the New Atlantic Initiative last year, "rather than blaming themselves."

Karl concludes:

Though a nasty flame-out is conceivable, I will close with a less alarmist yet blunt prediction about Europe's likely future. Fifty years hence, when my oldest children approach retirement, I expect that today's European dream of achieving economic and military superpower status will be a dim memory, and that some more realistic alternative will have replaced it.

---