The German-American relationship is the decisive transatlantic dynamic of our time. Long seen as one of the most stable connections between Europe and America thanks to its well-defined Cold War structure and hierarchy, relations between Washington and Berlin have become much more volatile in the twenty-first century— and are playing an increasingly pivotal role in determining the degree to which Europe and the United States will be able to shape a rapidly changing world order.

Stabilising this uniquely complicated relationship will be no easy feat. At times more closely aligned politically, and more intertwined economically, than any other transatlantic pair, since the end of the Cold War these republics have seen their relations characterised by frequent diplomatic, cultural and philosophical clashes and misunderstandings, and a trail of disappointed expectations.

Peter Sparding examines the long history between the two countries and their peoples; the narratives and perceptions harboured by each nation concerning the other; and the evolution of diplomatic, economic and security ties. Appraising the complicated interplay between Germany and the United States vis-à-vis a rising China, and the domestic challenges facing both countries, his book offers an outlook on how this all-important relationship might function going forward.