CameronPoe wrote:
It appears to me that Europe, with its bloody chequered history, has finally come to a mature and peaceful rest. Where once war was a core part of the European diet there now exists peace, co-operation, security, prosperity and progress. The last few hotspots - Northern Ireland and the former Yugoslavia - seem to be nearing resolution. Europe strikes a healthy balance between nationalism and international co-operation between member countries. Europe has developed a socialist form of capitalism providing the best of both worlds, economically speaking, - steady rates of economic growth coupled with generous social welfare (helping to keep income gaps, for the most part, relatively small and ensuring that pretty much no-one gets 'left behind'). Europe is the most environmentally aware region on earth and is taking measures to address environmental issues, even if other countries won't. Europe is viewed by many as an almost impartial arbiter in international matters - the Palestine situation being a case in point. The majority of Europe refused to endorse or engage in the Iraq war, a brave and correct decision in the face of extreme pressure from a powerful ally, with many of those that did engage in it finally coming to their senses through the pressure exerted on their governments by the people: true democracy.
Europe has many flaws but humans are flawed and nothing can be absolutely perfect. Having said that, has Europe finally reached the zenith of political and economic development?
Politically, perhaps....
I think Europe still has more advances ahead in an economic sense.
Overall though... It would seem that this continent's familiarity with war has led it to distrust the act itself. Yet... there is another explanation for this though....
Some have argued that America has served as Europe's military in many respects ever since the end of WW2. We were really the only power capable of taking on the Soviets head on. Unfortunately, it seems that our constant vigilance against the Soviets made us lose sight of enlisting our allies to a greater extent. If we had encouraged Europe to build up its militaries more over the last several decades, we'd probably see a more balanced approach to foreign policy -- and America wouldn't be spending so much on its own military.
The only way we can return the world back to a healthy multilateral status is to encourage Canada and Europe to increase their military spending. The U.K. already has a powerful military, but France and Germany need to step their forces up some. Canada and Australia seriously need to do the same.
During a few decades of this shifting of military significance, America can slowly shrink its military, so that it can spend more money on things it is in dire need of improving, like education and alternative energy research.
Of course, it's difficult to get nations that have the freedom to spend their funds on non-military items to shift them back toward defense. Look at all the societal and infrastructural advancements that much of Europe has been able to implement as a result of not having to worry much about military forces. If America could have exploited these same luxuries, we'd be a more prosperous and healthy country.
Simply put, Europe's reluctance to enter war is a positive cultural mindset, but its lack of emphasis on defense is a burden America has had to bear. From this point onward, we need to even things up more.
Last edited by Turquoise (2007-02-28 18:24:31)