Is it really any big surprise? I mean, the EU has always been walking that fine line between massive, functioning beaurocracy and pipe-dream. You've got a handful of the world's most nationalistic, xenophobic states all trying to join together in one big happy political love-fest. There is still the potential for the EU to work, if only because the politicians like it so much--but the people that actually live in Europe? Well, I think we can see from the recent referendums on the EU Constituation that it isn't as popular with the normal citizen. They've already had to give up their beloved, individualized currencies (and faced inflation because of it), now they're supposed to give up political control over their own nation?
I'm a little rusty on EU politics, but my senior thesis was on the WEU, the military branch of the EU (bet you didn't even know they HAVE a military branch)...even 10 years ago, when I was writing my paper, it was on the edge of collapse. Why? Because individual states did not want to contribute the necessary troops and equipment and have them server under foreign command--much the same way that the US will refuse to participate in UN actions unless they are led by US forces...Now I see this same thing happening in the EU at the policy level; the populace just isn't willing to live and work under conditions dictated by a bunch of foreigners (i.e. heads of other EU nations).
But would it really be such a bad thing if the EU ended up dissolving? That is the real question that must be asked....
I would really like to see some political force strong enough to counter-balance American power (that was sort of democratic as well). Militarily the EU will never be as strong as the US...but they don't have to be. Just so long as they are strong economically and politically.
Anyway...I think the whole EU thing is going to be on ice for awhile. Maybe after the next war people will look into it again =)
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chiming
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Date: 2005-06-16 03:30 pm (UTC)From:I'm a little rusty on EU politics, but my senior thesis was on the WEU, the military branch of the EU (bet you didn't even know they HAVE a military branch)...even 10 years ago, when I was writing my paper, it was on the edge of collapse. Why? Because individual states did not want to contribute the necessary troops and equipment and have them server under foreign command--much the same way that the US will refuse to participate in UN actions unless they are led by US forces...Now I see this same thing happening in the EU at the policy level; the populace just isn't willing to live and work under conditions dictated by a bunch of foreigners (i.e. heads of other EU nations).
But would it really be such a bad thing if the EU ended up dissolving? That is the real question that must be asked....
no subject
Date: 2005-06-16 09:49 pm (UTC)From:Anyway...I think the whole EU thing is going to be on ice for awhile. Maybe after the next war people will look into it again =)
no subject
Date: 2005-06-16 03:32 pm (UTC)From: