William Pfaff: Europe Needs to Believe in Its Own Adequacy
[William Pfaff is the author of eight books on American foreign policy, international relations, and contemporary history, including books on utopian thought, romanticism and violence, nationalism, and the impact of the West on the non-Western world. His newspaper column, featured in The International Herald Tribune for more than a quarter-century, and his globally syndicated articles, have given him the widest international influence of any American commentator.]
Much has been written and said about making the European Union a “world player.” The Lisbon Treaty was expected to accomplish this by bestowing a president, foreign-policy representative and diplomatic service. It was another expression of Europe’s inability to come to terms with the reality of Europe present and past, and thereby liberate its future potentialities....
So what is this problem about Europe’s standing in the world today that obsesses the Europeans and generates constant self-examination, endless academic seminars and political conferences, all permeated with inarticulate anxiety?
It has no foundation in the real circumstances of Europe today. Obviously some of the EU’s recently entered members have legacy problems of corruption and crime, weak political structure and uncompetitive industry and agriculture; but thanks to membership in the EU, more is being done to solve these problems than would ever have happened without EU membership....
The actual explanation is one of elegant and edifying simplicity, linked to memories of modern terror and suffering. To use the American colloquialism: Western Europe has already been there, and already done that. And paid the price: in nihilism, death and waste in 1914-18 and 1939-45. Eastern and Balkan Europe—and Russia—subsequently suffered still more during the Cold War....
During the Cold War, the United States defended Western Europe from the threat of Russian attack. Since the Cold War ended, there has been no threat from which to defend Europe. The so-called war against terror was, and has remained, a war by Islamist groups against the American military presence in the Middle East and Central Asia.
It has never been directed against European societies, other than those that have intervened in this “war” on the American side. Washington, even under Barack Obama, seems determined to add to its enemies in Asia—possibly to include China, and Russia as well. The new foreign affairs apparatus of the European Union should assure Washington that this is not a course on which the Europeans will be its fellow travelers....
Read entire article at openDemocracy
Much has been written and said about making the European Union a “world player.” The Lisbon Treaty was expected to accomplish this by bestowing a president, foreign-policy representative and diplomatic service. It was another expression of Europe’s inability to come to terms with the reality of Europe present and past, and thereby liberate its future potentialities....
So what is this problem about Europe’s standing in the world today that obsesses the Europeans and generates constant self-examination, endless academic seminars and political conferences, all permeated with inarticulate anxiety?
It has no foundation in the real circumstances of Europe today. Obviously some of the EU’s recently entered members have legacy problems of corruption and crime, weak political structure and uncompetitive industry and agriculture; but thanks to membership in the EU, more is being done to solve these problems than would ever have happened without EU membership....
The actual explanation is one of elegant and edifying simplicity, linked to memories of modern terror and suffering. To use the American colloquialism: Western Europe has already been there, and already done that. And paid the price: in nihilism, death and waste in 1914-18 and 1939-45. Eastern and Balkan Europe—and Russia—subsequently suffered still more during the Cold War....
During the Cold War, the United States defended Western Europe from the threat of Russian attack. Since the Cold War ended, there has been no threat from which to defend Europe. The so-called war against terror was, and has remained, a war by Islamist groups against the American military presence in the Middle East and Central Asia.
It has never been directed against European societies, other than those that have intervened in this “war” on the American side. Washington, even under Barack Obama, seems determined to add to its enemies in Asia—possibly to include China, and Russia as well. The new foreign affairs apparatus of the European Union should assure Washington that this is not a course on which the Europeans will be its fellow travelers....