https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/europe-falling-apart
Those who actually remember WWII are an ever-shrinking share of the populations of both Europe and the US. The Marshall Plan, the EU, and NATO helped cement the peace in Europe, and, by extension, the US, resulting in steady economic growth and stability in western Europe. Eventually much of eastern Europe also joined the EU and these countries have shared in the overall peace and prosperity.
But it seems that memories are short. NATO and the EU are at risk, in spite of their success at bringing about the longest period of peace in European history - 75 years without pan-European war. There is a push towards nationalism throughout Europe, and to isolationism.The US is moving towards both isms as well. The elections that brought Brexit to the Britain and Trump to the White House are the clearest signs of all that the lessons learned in the 20th century have been forgotten by too many. Most of the danger is coming from the far-right parties.
Margaret summarizes the potential danger of this situation at the end of her article.
These antagonisms seem less a blip than the beginning of the end of a successful trans-Atlantic and European-wide alliance that has kept the peace for seventy-five years. ...the EU and NATO are mechanisms for stability, prosperity, and security. Can these achievements survive the recent outbreaks of nationalism throughout Europe? Can they keep Europeans from each other’s throats?
...As the United States suffers another bout of what Philip Roth called “indigenous American berserk,” we must continue to hope that the twentieth century taught Europeans lessons they will not easily forget. But if they need a reminder, they might consult another brilliant work of history, Christopher Clark’s detailed description of how Europe stumbled into war in 1914. The book is ominously titled, The Sleepwalkers.
The US is sleepwalking too.
I guess I have to read Tim Bouverie’s book. The mass shooting in Hanau Germany (how American!) by an apparent opponent of immigrants (i.e., children of God) fits into the picture, too.
ReplyDeleteAlso today, the (temporary?) appointment of our ambassador to Germany, who took it as part of his remit to encourage neo-Nazi parties in Germany and Austria, as director of Intelligence (even though there is no evidence he has any... I mean any EXPERIENCE in it) is part of it, too.
The truth is, democracy demands accommodation, which now seems so 20th Century, and it requires that people pay attention. Our current president, and our current political atmosphere, has no use for either.
Yes, definitely read "Appeasement: Chamberlain, Hitler, Churchill and the Road to War." Well-written, nitty gritty on the English political class, who seem to spend an amazing amount of time drinking or grouse hunting.
DeleteAND, if you're really into it: The Bell of Treason which takes up the same issues from the pov of the Czechs...who are much better informed than the Brits and even, according to the author, much better prepared to hold off the German if only their perfidious allies had kept their promises.
The long-ago mentioned World War I book groups has now moved on (with title change) to World War I ETC!! book group and these two books were our reads for January and February. Great discussion last night! Coming up Arthur Koestler, Darkness at Noon.
Takes your mind off Darkness in the White House!
Ah, the English gentleman. I read somewhere that in the late 1930s, when the Brits started building the chain of radar sites with which to watch for incoming Germany bombers, the hunters raised an unholy noise about the radar interfering with their hunting.
DeleteAs Oscar Wilde said of fox hunting: the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable.
What is disturbing about all these centrifugal forces at work among the nations of the world is that we are facing a global challenge in climate change. There has never been a greater need for cooperation, that thing that, on a smaller scale of tribe and family, allowed us to become an ascendant form of life. What put the "di" in "diabolical"?
ReplyDeleteYes, that's a good point, and I wonder what kind of catastrophe would yank people back to sanity.
DeleteCatastrophes that happen in slow motion tend to get overlooked. Hidden Brain, one of my favorite podcasts, had a little piece on how good we are at ignoring disaster warnings: https://www.npr.org/2020/01/17/797357603/the-cassandra-curse-why-we-heed-some-warnings-and-ignore-others
David Ignatius captures some of the tooing and froing on the Trans-Atlantic relationship in this report on the past week's Munich security conference. He throws in Pompeo's "everything's just fine" comments making me wonder if he and Trump are doing a bad cop and really bad cop routine.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-the-rest-of-the-world-is-reacting-to-the-democratic-primary/2020/02/20/ef63f916-5420-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html
The David Ignatius article had this to say: "The circular firing squad in Las Vegas probably raised expectations abroad that the Democrats won't unite behind a candidate with wide popular appeal who can beat Trump."
DeleteI'm not qualified to weigh in on what they think abroad. But I think the idea that Democrats and their fellow travelers won't unite behind a candidate to defeat Trump is mistaken. The way they set up the nominating process, it's like a gladiator fight, with the prize going to the last one standing. Of course it's a circular firing squad. That's not a bug, it's a feature. I think it's the wrong way to go about it, but they didn't ask me.
Virtually every "never-Trumper" I've seen quoted or talked with in person has said they'll go blue no matter who. But in order to unite behind someone they have to go through this really ugly weed out process. There'll be wounds and hard feelings as a result. But I believe in the end they'll suck it up and go with the nominee, whoever that ends up being. Whether there will be enough of them to beat Trump is another question.
I agree. Just think of what we're up against. A party where Trump personally insulted other contenders and even Cruz' wife and father and they all STILL rolled over like puppies. If I, an enthusiastic Bernie supporter and marginal Democrat can vote ABT even for Bloomberg, anyone should be able to.
DeleteStanley, a while back you spoke of a "ranked choice" primary. I think that would be the best way to go.
Delete