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| Europe |
| Analysis: Can Europe Be A Superpower? |
| 2005-06-22 |
| Both fearful and resentful of the United States playing the role of the world's "sole superpower," many have expressed the hope the European Union will become a countervailing democratic superpower. Not only could such an EU curb what are seen as U.S. unilateralism and militarism, it could also spread the sort of peaceful conflict resolution now prevailing in most of Europe to other parts of the world. Surely this would be better, the advocates of the EU as a countervailing superpower argue, than the Bush administration's "cowboy" approach that has made a mess in Iraq and threatens to make others in Iran, North Korea, and elsewhere. But the EU, others have pointed out, operates under several constraints that serve to prevent it from becoming a superpower. One is the need to coordinate foreign policy among 25 member states -- something that will not become any easier now that French and Dutch voters have rejected the EU constitution that had provided for a common foreign minister. Another is Europe's low defense expenditure, compared to the United States, has resulted in it having a limited capacity for military intervention, especially without U.S. assistance. And perhaps most importantly, there appears to be no political will in the EU to build up its armed forces since the resources for this would have to come at least in part through reducing Europe's highly generous (and popular) social welfare and retirement programs. It may seem impossible, then, for an EU unwilling to engage in military intervention to become a superpower equal to the United States. But this is not necessarily the case. Indeed, it is possible the EU, despite its unwillingness to use force, could not only equal the United States as a superpower, but even replace it as the hegemonic power most able to shape the international order. The EU has the potential for doing this because it has an asset neither the United States nor any other country (or group of countries) possesses: the desire on the part of other countries to join it. We have seen already how much the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have been willing to transform themselves in order to be admitted to the EU. If the EU expressed its willingness to admit any and all countries wishing to join that meet its admission standards, it would unleash an extraordinary demand for political and economic reform throughout the world. While not all countries would want to join the EU, enough probably would in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to create the world's largest voluntary union (which might be renamed the Global Union, or GU). The larger this union grows, the more that other countries, including the United States, would have to take its wishes into account. Being willing to admit any and all countries wishing to join that meet its political and economic standards for admission, of course, would be an extraordinary commitment for the EU to undertake. Indeed, many Europeans would oppose such an ambitious project. There is already tremendous opposition in Europe to admitting poorer neighboring countries such as Turkey and Ukraine into the EU. Indeed, it is ironic that in France, the country where the desire for the EU to become a countervailing superpower to the United States is strongest, the willingness to expand the EU any further is weakest. It is not sufficient to want to be a superpower in order for a country (or group of countries) to become one. Up to now, military strength has been one of the most important elements that have allowed a country to play this role. The EU is unique in that it has the possibility to play the role of a superpower without asserting itself militarily. In order to do this, however, the EU must be willing to assert itself politically through a willingness to admit countries beyond the European heartland. A Europe that is either unwilling to do this or to assert itself militarily is not really serious about becoming a superpower - and should act accordingly. |
| Posted by:Spavirt Pheng6042 |
| #19 "The EU is unique in that it has the possibility to play the role of a superpower without asserting itself militarily." This reminds me of the old Steve Martin routine. "You can be a MILLIONAIRE, and never pay taxes. First, get a million dollars, then...." |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2005-06-22 18:58 |
| #18 If they were talking about some Asian version of the EU, maybe....but not the EU as it is today. |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2005-06-22 18:57 |
| #17 This article forgets that while the no countries are joining the US, millions of people are anxoius to join the US every year. In the choice between political elites vs people, go with the people every time. Al |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2005-06-22 16:10 |
| #16 "The EU has the potential for doing this because it has an asset neither the United States nor any other country (or group of countries) possesses: the desire on the part of other countries to join it." Yeah, the Turks had that desire, but I suspect enough was said in France in the last month to make it clear to the Turks that they're chasing a rotten carrot dangling from the end of a termite-infested stick. |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-06-22 16:04 |
#15 Not only could such an EU curb what are seen as U.S. unilateralism and militarism, it could also spread the sort of peaceful conflict resolution now prevailing in most of Europe to other parts of the world.That "peaceful conflict resolution now prevailing in most of Europe" is courtesy of the United States military, dipshit. By all means, EU, help spread that to other parts of the world. Of course, that would mean we'd be too busy for you, but what the hell - you don't need us anyway, right? Right? I lived in Europe for 3 years and NEVER got this stupid, so I doubt it's something in the soil or water. Of course, I drank tap water, not the bottled stuff. Hmmmm.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-06-22 14:05 |
| #14 It's it amazing they really didn't kill each other (except for that dust-up)at the end of the 20th century. All because they're willing to talk and have a process. |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2005-06-22 13:19 |
| #13 the sort of peaceful conflict resolution now prevailing in most of Europe to other parts of the world. Can you say Yugoslavia? |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2005-06-22 12:22 |
| #12 Nope. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2005-06-22 12:18 |
| #11 Other countries may want to join the EU, but the EU itself has closed the door on them. The future now lies with a potential Middle East Common Market, whose core states will be Turkey and Iraq. As other nations wish to join *them*, they will have to reform to their standards. The great irony of this will be that finally get their reformed "empire", but not under a Sultan or even as a religious state. As a predominantly secular, democratic confederation in competition with Europe. Eventually, I can imagine it incorporating Libya, Egypt and other northern African nations, Jordan, Syria, Saudi, Yemen, Oman, the UAR, Azerbaijan, and perhaps Jordan. Ironically, Iran will be to them as Russia is to the EU, too powerful and too different to become a member. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-06-22 11:13 |
| #10 looking at the world through rose-colored more like blinders. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-06-22 11:10 |
| #9 The French tried it once around 1805, the Germans tried twice in the 20th Century. Fortunately, the window of opportunity in history has now passed, for the better. |
| Posted by: Snolunter Elmineger5424 2005-06-22 11:09 |
| #8 No. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-06-22 11:05 |
| #7 Not only could such an EU curb what are seen as U.S. unilateralism and militarism, it could also spread the sort of peaceful conflict resolution now prevailing in most of Europe to other parts of the world. Something tells me that someone is looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-06-22 10:22 |
| #6 The larger this union grows, the more that other countries, including the United States, would have to take its wishes into account. Already been tried twice in the 20th Century (League of Nations, UN). Neither worked out very well. |
| Posted by: Dreadnought 2005-06-22 10:02 |
| #5 no |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-06-22 09:51 |
| #4 All they need to do to become a superpower is to submit. And I fear they will. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-06-22 09:23 |
| #3 Europe can become a superpower in 21 easy steps. Just send me 29.99$ (no Euros, please) for my book How to become a superpower in 21 easy steps. |
| Posted by: gromgorru 2005-06-22 09:20 |
| #2 Blogging while under influence of alcohol or drugs should be severely punished by the law. |
| Posted by: JFM 2005-06-22 09:02 |
| #1 "The EU is unique in that it has the possibility to play the role of a superpower without asserting itself militarily." As Spongebob says: "Good luck with that!" |
| Posted by: Mark E. 2005-06-22 08:45 |