What are the reasons for Eu criticism of the United states?

Answer 1

Some of the real roots to the difference lie in the use of the Justinian Code for justice/law by continental Europe, versus the edicts of William the Conqueror and moreso the Magna Carta for Britian (and subsequently the US). That's a little too deep for a Y!A, but you can start research.

In the 18th thru 20th centuries, there was a real push for a utopia by Europeans. That led to the French Revolution, Marxism, Socialism (including the Nazis) and other political movements. They failed (see WW I, WWII, and the USSR) which in turn led to a sort of a pessimistic malais throughout Europe. This seems to be pushed by the French, first w/ Sartre and Camus' existentialism, now w/ Derrida's post-modernism.

But, the conflict w/ the US is that the US is still fairly optimistic. We see opportunity and have hope. There still exists an "American Dream". That optimism is seen as naivite by Europeans, yet what misanthrope doesn't despise the happy person? And yes, jealousy is a big part of that.

I also believe that much of the US's optimism comes from the prevalence of Christianity. Europe unfortunately institutionalized Christianity centuries ago, and even the reformation didn't do much to shake that off.

Christianity at its very essence is about optimism. It's hope and faith in something better than ourselves. The success of the US is a testimony to that, even as US people have been far from perfect in their history.

Answer 2

Their just jealous because they aren't as rich and powerful as we are! The only country I like in the EU is the United Kingdom. Europeans don't know anything about the U.S. anyway, unless they've lived here.