The American Dream vs. the European Dream

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2012 in the subject Cultural Studies - European Studies, grade: 1,4, Maastricht University, language: English, abstract: This paper explains the reflection of the individualist focus of the American and the communal aspect of the European Dream in disability rights legislation of the United States and the European Union respectively. The first chapter elaborates on the dominating notions of the American, thoroughly explained by James Adams (1931), as well as the European Dream, coined by Rifkin (2004). The second chapter describes the two institutional frameworks of disability rights legislation. On the one hand, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is outlined in greater detail. On the other hand, the recent European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 is summarized on the basis of its main objectives, areas of action and implementation strategies. Subsequently, the third chapter sets out a comparative approach to both pieces of legislation. Therefore, the first hypothesis draws upon methodology common in legal studies, whereas the second one consults the social philosophy perspective in order to explain the reflection of the European Dream within the framework of the current European disability right legislation. Here, the transformation that the British disability has undergone during the 1990s and which had substantial implications on the formation of a European disability rights movement is thoroughly analyzed. The American Dream - no myth has spread as relentlessly as this notion of American patriotism. Its underlying values such as liberty, equality and democracy have shaped the policy-making processes in the United States since the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Nowadays, this glorious legend of the American Dream remains rather influential and determines the workings of the US political system. Doubtlessly, there are similar success stories of people living within the European Union, however, there is no myth (yet) about the destitute man who came to the EU, started off as a dish washer and quickly became part of the successful and prosperous European upper class due to his continuous and accurate work.