Europe's Perilous Path: It's a Rush Before the Crash

Europe is on a self-destructive course with no plausible remedies for mounting problems. The result is widespread uncertainty, helplessness and fear.

https://www.socialeurope.eu/europes-perilous-path-its-a-rush-before-the-crash



Europe faces an explosive cocktail of crises, to which it applies ill-suited treatments. Consider the responses to external security threats following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Despite declarations that a courageous Ukraine is defending European freedom, investment prioritises national border protection over Ukraine’s. Furthermore, there is growing discrimination against Ukrainians residing in European nations, obstruction of Ukrainian agricultural exports, and increased barriers to European Union enlargement. Although the reliability of American security protection is diminishing, Europe continues to acquire American armaments, which could be rendered unusable by a capricious US President.

Responses to internal security threats are equally peculiar. States exhibit leniency towards the excesses of far-right movements but not towards their victims: migrants, feminists, LGBT+ communities, and environmentalists. Racist and nationalist rhetoric is gradually being adopted by nominally liberal parties, implicitly condoning violence against minorities despite legal safeguards. International rights, such as asylum, are being suspended, and constitutional provisions on human rights are ignored. Regarding migration, which Europe purportedly seeks to curb, counterproductive measures are prevalent. It is well understood that wars, poverty, and climate change drive migration.

Yet, instead of preventing conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, redoubling efforts to alleviate poverty, and halting climate change, Europe constructs walls that often impede entrepreneurs and tourists more than undocumented migrants and smugglers. Despite the knowledge that an integrated Europe could effectively address American tariffs, Russian expansionism, migration, or climate change, the European Union is held hostage to national sovereign whims. Efforts are underway to dismantle pivotal EU initiatives such as the rule of law protections, the pact on migration, and the green deal.

Causes and Remedies

Explaining Europe’s self-destructive, almost sado-masochistic, behaviour is challenging. While there is a general consensus on the causes of the current predicament, credible solutions remain elusive. Mainstream parties, which have governed Europe for decades, have compromised or betrayed their liberal ideals by tolerating increasing inequalities, engaging in international disputes, and disregarding the social costs of technological advancements. Consequently, they have lost their grip on power across ideological, electoral, and administrative domains. This atmosphere of political instability and ideological vacuum has fostered public fears. These fears have been exacerbated by terrorism, pandemics, financial instability, climate change, and wars on Europe’s periphery.

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