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As nationalism rises, will the European Union fall?
Washington Post ^ | August 29, 2010 | Charles Kupchan

Posted on 08/29/2010 7:38:59 PM PDT by neverdem

The European Union is dying -- not a dramatic or sudden death, but one so slow and steady that we may look across the Atlantic one day soon and realize that the project of European integration that we've taken for granted over the past half-century is no more.

Europe's decline is partly economic. The financial crisis has taken a painful toll on many E.U. members, and high national debts and the uncertain health of the continent's banks may mean more trouble ahead. But these woes pale in comparison with a more serious malady: From London to Berlin to Warsaw, Europe is experiencing a renationalization of political life, with countries clawing back the sovereignty they once willingly sacrificed in pursuit of a collective ideal.

For many Europeans, that greater good no longer seems to matter. They wonder what the union is delivering for them, and they ask whether it is worth the trouble. If these trends continue, they could compromise one of the most significant and unlikely accomplishments of the 20th century: an integrated Europe, at peace with itself, seeking to project power as a cohesive whole. The result would be individual nations consigned to geopolitical irrelevance -- and a United States bereft of a partner willing or able to shoulder global burdens.

The erosion of support for a unified Europe is infecting even Germany, whose obsession with banishing the national rivalries that long subjected the continent to great-power wars once made it the engine of integration. Berlin's recent reluctance to rescue Greece during its financial tailspin -- Chancellor Angela Merkel resisted the bailout for months -- breached the spirit of common welfare that is the hallmark of a collective Europe. Only after the Greek crisis threatened to engulf the euro zone did Merkel override popular opposition and approve the loan...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: europeanunion; nationalism
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1 posted on 08/29/2010 7:39:01 PM PDT by neverdem
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To: neverdem

Will be there in 3 weeks. It will be interesting to hear what my European colleagues have to say.


2 posted on 08/29/2010 7:41:19 PM PDT by sionnsar (IranAzadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5:SONY|TV--it's NOT news you can trust)
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To: neverdem

it’s a good thing. The people are tired of a bunch of elitists imposing even more taxes and regulations upon them. They have an even more powerful argument for states rights than we do!


3 posted on 08/29/2010 7:45:38 PM PDT by Nateman (If liberals are not screaming you are doing it wrong!)
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To: neverdem

Hopefully independent countries, without the thugs in Brussels, will start to take care of the I***mic problem.

They have better chance than here because the Saudis and other Ilsmaics have major investments and business deals with ALL Tv networks including the 6th network bloomberg. The idiots here gave away liberty for a clicker.


4 posted on 08/29/2010 7:46:09 PM PDT by Frantzie (Imam Ob*m* & Democrats support the VICTORY MOSQUE & TV supports Imam)
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To: sionnsar

Nations are nature’s way of weeding out bad political ideas. One world government would bring about the extinction of human society within three or four generations, no mistake would ever get corrected. Nations provide the necessary basis of comparison for policies; the guys doing whatever it is the wrong way can see their neighbors next door living better than they are.


5 posted on 08/29/2010 7:48:37 PM PDT by wendy1946
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To: neverdem

A good bet would be to be on Germany’s side but given the history....


6 posted on 08/29/2010 7:56:38 PM PDT by mainsail that ("A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights" - Napoleon Bonaparte)
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To: sionnsar

You might quiz them about the recent cuts in social programs too. I wouldn’t be surprised if many Euro’s start to resent the EU after the impact starts to hit close to their own pocketbooks. As Mrs. Thatcher said, sooner or later you run out of other peoples’ money!


7 posted on 08/29/2010 7:58:49 PM PDT by bigbob
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To: wendy1946
Nations are nature’s way of weeding out bad political ideas.

I wish we had not lost that concept here as regards states.

8 posted on 08/29/2010 8:01:00 PM PDT by sionnsar (IranAzadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5:SONY|TV--it's NOT news you can trust)
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To: neverdem
As nationalism rises, will the European Union fall?

That would definitely something to hope for, and look for to.

9 posted on 08/29/2010 8:01:10 PM PDT by Will88
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To: bigbob
You might quiz them about the recent cuts in social programs too.

I try to stay out of political discussions there. We have enough potential frictions in my committee (to begin with, many of our employers are direct competitors) that we don't need more added. I just listen.

10 posted on 08/29/2010 8:05:07 PM PDT by sionnsar (IranAzadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5:SONY|TV--it's NOT news you can trust)
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To: neverdem

the ruling class LOVE layers upon layers of bureaucrats. It wasn’t enough to just have a local, state and federal government, now they have a continental government and a global government


11 posted on 08/29/2010 8:07:18 PM PDT by 4rcane
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To: Will88

As nationalism rises, will the European Union fall?

That would definitely something to hope for, and look for to.


Pretty sure you will see a war or two. Russia in the Baltics, Turks with the Greeks (islands) and lots of sharp rhetoric. France sending home Romanian gypsies was a clear sign of future trouble


12 posted on 08/29/2010 8:13:40 PM PDT by mainsail that ("A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights" - Napoleon Bonaparte)
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To: neverdem

“— and a United States bereft of a partner willing or able to shoulder global burdens. “

... As if!


13 posted on 08/29/2010 8:15:26 PM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: sionnsar

“The result would be individual nations consigned to geopolitical irrelevance — and a United States bereft of a partner willing or able to shoulder global burdens.”

Hell we lack a partner willing to shoulder global burdens and defense issues even when they are united...might as well go back to the old days...


14 posted on 08/29/2010 8:17:10 PM PDT by Crapgame (What should be taught in our schools? American Exceptionalism, not cultural Marxism...)
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To: wendy1946

“One world government would bring about the extinction of human society within three or four generations,”

I think the plan is to hold it together for only about 7 year.


15 posted on 08/29/2010 8:17:15 PM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: neverdem

The EU simply ensures that all of Europe hangs together on the gallows of Islam.


16 posted on 08/29/2010 8:25:41 PM PDT by LoneRangerMassachusetts (The meek shall not inherit the Earth)
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To: neverdem

The problem is simple: a Dutchman doesn’t want to see his money confiscated by a Frenchman to hand over to a Greek. There’s nothing in common amongst the European nations that would afford a point of solidarity to make one nation favor another over itself.


17 posted on 08/29/2010 8:32:09 PM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: neverdem
Nations, in essence, are places where everyone speaks the same language and follows, in general, the same norms and mores. Countries with mixed language and customs FAIL. Period. End of Story... History proves the point. Remember Czechoslovakia? Remember Yugoslavia? Remember the Soviet Union? Remember East Germany? Remember Kurdistan? and on and on and on... IF folks can't even speak together and their customs and manners bump into each other, you end up with hatred and warfare...
18 posted on 08/29/2010 9:12:25 PM PDT by April Lexington (Study the constitution so you know what they are taking away!)
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts

“The EU simply ensures that all of Europe hangs together on the gallows of Islam.”

No truer words spoken


19 posted on 08/29/2010 9:17:35 PM PDT by Stormdog (A rifle transforms one from subject to Citizen)
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To: neverdem

Nationalism is on the rise because of Globalist Lies. And their schemes to subject the world in bonds of slavery.

Remember, November is coming.


20 posted on 08/29/2010 9:23:44 PM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.)
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