● YT info: clear explainer of Europe’s East-West divide for U.S. viewers- borders, Central Europe, the Balkans, Schengen, Russia, Turkey, political, geographical and cultural identity. And why does nobody seem to agree? I guess the question is really How Many Europes Are There? More from me: https:// benjaminantoine.substack.com
● Note: I edited the title a bit to make it more accessible in this setting. The video identifies like 4 different definitions of Europe from a semi-outsiders perspective. It does therefore clarify for me a lot about what Europe is in a Political, Cultural, Geographical and Historical sense. I believe these distinction helps us identify the main themes when discussing The Politics Of Europe as a whole.
Ps :
As the democracy-index worldwide, keeps worsening and we see more authoritarian regimes rising and expanding their influence, I believe that " Euroepean Culture" , as in the liberal social democracies we know, will become more and more a glue and maybe a beacon for remaining democracies.
Politically, Europe, Canada, Australia & NZ, Japan , Korea , Mercosur, parts of African Union etc., are expanding cooperation via economic & military pacts .
Other countries, like RF, China, Iran, USA etc., are distancing themselves from the European model; they feel threatened by the peaceful democratic integration of a multicultural society with a working economic model, and international laws.
While we do face fractures within our society and the " European Dream" so to speak, we must also acknowledge walking together in uncharted territories. The European Project has no historic precedent and I think we’re just going forward via trial& error. In principle, Europe has been shaped and forged by necessity and crises, and I imagine that the near future( 5 -15 years) will not be much different. The differences between snd within our countries, could only be overcome by dire need and survival.
The next couple of years will be very formative for our European projec. Our historic, cultural and economic pillars and foundations will modt probably be translated via ambition, dream, necessity, discussion into a a more material political reality. Albeit , technological, infrastructure, education, social cohesion,(con) federation, military, human rights, economical, or otherwise. Or, so I hope.