Information Package / Course Catalogue
Transatlantic Relations
Course Code: ULU471
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 3
Prt.: 0
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 5
Objectives of the Course

This course aims to understand the historical, political, economic, and security-based relations between Europe and North America, particularly the United States. It analyzes the characteristics and political transformations of the transatlantic alliance through key themes such as NATO, the nature of political and economic relations between the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as trade, values, and diplomacy.

Course Content

This course examines the political, economic, security-related, and value-based relations between Europe and North America (particularly the United States) from a historical and analytical perspective. Topics include the emergence of NATO, the Cold War era, transatlantic trade agreements, joint defense strategies, disruptions and rebalancing efforts during the Trump and Biden administrations, as well as the impacts of global actors such as China, Russia, and Brexit on the transatlantic alliance. The course equips students with both theoretical insight and contemporary understanding of continuity and change in transatlantic relations.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Lec. Cemal Alpgiray BÖLÜCEK
Learning Outcomes
1.Analyzes the historical evolution of transatlantic relations.
2.Explains the security roles of actors such as NATO and the EU.
3.Evaluates the economic and trade relations between the US and the EU.
4.Discusses crises and divergences that have emerged in transatlantic relations.
5.Interprets current developments from the perspective of the transatlantic alliance.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Arı, Tayyar. 2014. Soğuk Savaş’tan Günümüze ABD Dış Politikası. Bursa: MKM Yayıncılık.
2.Haft, John. 2020. Transatlantic Relations in the 21st Century. Routledge.
3.Smith, Michael, and Stephan Keukeleire. 2021. The Diplomatic System of the European Union. Routledge.
4.Aydın, Mustafa. 2003. “Transatlantik İlişkilerin Dönüşümü ve Türkiye.” Avrasya Dosyası 9 (4): 5–32.
5.Eralp, Atila. 2013. “Avrupa Birliği, ABD ve Transatlantik İlişkiler.” İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi 27 (1): 1–22.
6.Sloan, Stanley R. 2017. Defense of the West: Transatlantic Security from Truman to Trump. Manchester University Press.
7.Hanhimäki, Jussi M., Benedikt Schoenborn, and Barbara Zanchetta. 2012. Transatlantic Relations Since 1945: An Introduction. Routledge.
8.Dedeoğlu, Beril. 2005. “Irak Savaşı ve Transatlantik Bölünme.” AÜ SBF Dergisi 60 (4): 25–50.
9.Tutar, Hasan Oktay. 2018. “Trump Döneminde Transatlantik İlişkiler.” Uluslararası Güvenlik ve Terörizm Dergisi 3 (2): 91–115.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Definition of the transatlantic system and the concept of the West in historical context
Week 2 - Theoretical
Post-WWII institutional framework: NATO, UN, IMF, and the Bretton Woods system
Week 3 - Theoretical
Founding of NATO, the Soviet threat, and Turkey’s accession to the alliance
Week 4 - Theoretical
The Marshall Plan, European integration, and U.S. institutional influence
Week 5 - Theoretical
Berlin and Cuban Crises, détente, and Cold War transatlantic relations
Week 6 - Theoretical
Transatlantic economic relations: TTIP, investment, and trade balances
Week 7 - Theoretical
Post-9/11 interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and counterterrorism cooperation
Week 8 - Theoretical
Snowden incident, data security, and the transatlantic trust crisis
Week 9 - Theoretical
The post-Brexit position of the UK and its special relationship with the U.S.
Week 10 - Theoretical
Trump-era NATO budget disputes, tensions with Germany, and rhetoric toward the EU
Week 11 - Theoretical
Biden administration’s multilateralism, renewed trust with the EU, and climate diplomacy
Week 12 - Theoretical
2nd Trump-era, China and Russia and transatlantic security strategies
Week 13 - Theoretical
Democracy, human rights, value conflicts, and the ideological foundations of the West
Week 14 - Theoretical
General evaluation on key concepts, actors, and future perspectives
Week 15 - Final Exam
Final Exams
Week 16 - Final Exam
Final Exams
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%40
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory144398
Midterm Examination110111
Final Examination115116
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)125
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
OÇ-1
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
3
OÇ-2
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
OÇ-3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
OÇ-4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
3
OÇ-5
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
3
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026