Europe is sometimes depicted by thinkers as the old man of the world; the continent that was once great, but is now mostly faded glory. Nonsense, says historian Maarten van Rossem in De Ongelooflijke Podcast: 'The European Union is a miracle'.
Maarten van Rossem regards the European Union as an "unprecedented miracle". Instead of viewing the EU as a bureaucratic or dying institution, he praises the unique character of the peaceful, supranational cooperation and the exceptional prosperity the continent has built up through it.
His main vision on this is characterized by the following points:
- Peace project and stability: Van Rossem emphasizes that, after centuries of devastating wars (including the First and Second World Wars), it can be called a miracle that European countries have been peacefully integrated into a common market.
- Inferiority complex: He is annoyed by the European inferiority complex. According to him, this is completely unnecessary. Europe can measure itself against other world powers, as it functions as one of the most prosperous and stable regions in the world.
- Unique cooperation: While great powers like China and the US, according to him, struggle to cooperate with other nations in a sustainable, democratic manner, the EU has indeed realized this system of shared sovereignty.
Here is what I'll say. The EU, and in particular England plays the long game and that is smart. They are much more adept at and inclined to make strategic, far reaching, long-term moves.
Quiet and reserved doesn't necessarily mean fading. Sometimes it means smart.
@Fukfacewillie Oh yes, for some countries like Belgium the change over is still resisted. Even in UK where the defence secretary resigned on the matter only this week. Glad to see my own country joining up to France and integrating their defence spending on the Belgian army with theirs. We have now two battle brigades. There's indeed movement to notice.
@GeretJan Yeah, Belgium! (Love your beer). If I were PM in the UK I’d advocate for a refurbished Royal Navy. Get some pride back. France, Belgium, Germany, Scandinavia armed against Russia. Love it.
