- 08 May 2007 01:48
#1198977
First off, why "Berlin / London axis", why "center at Brusseles", why "Berlin-Moscow axis"?
These words make no sense to me, so let me rephrase/summarize the "three Europes" based on what the article describes:
1. American Dream Europe / success of European "liberalism"
Happy-hippy Euramericans unite everyone on the Old Continent in the grand pursuit of a_whole_bunch of_empty_words such as liberty, justice, freedom, individualism, etc. There are no more national wars, no more moral principles and boundaries, no more nations and no more peoples, only one race of insatiable stockholders and money makers.
2. American Dream backfires on Europe / European liberalism is unsuccessful
In attempt to pursue American values, the Europeans are challenged with growing Muslim immigration and domestic dissent bordering on terrorism. Nationalism doesn't wither away easily, conflicts remain unsolved, GDP isn't growing very well, Russia and her alliance bloc remain resilient. Yet Europe doesn't give up and continues to pretend pursuing liberal values!
3. Russian Dream Europe / strong conservative revival
For one reason or another Europeans decide that they no longer want to pursue liberal internationalism and instead they go back to more traditional right-wing conservatism. This process probably begins in Eastern Europe like in Russia and the Balkans, then continues on to central and western Europe. This does not have to lead to decline in relations with US, but probably will, eventually. Europe then switches its philosophy from "money-making" to "spiritual money-making" and under Russian leadership goes on to crusade against the Muslims, Chinese, Jews, Americans, or anyone else deemed a "threat" to European "culture" (which ceased to exist long ago).
I can't say which one of the scenarios is more likely to take place, but I guess something in between first and second option would be a fair guess.
But if we ignore the likelihood of these things happening, then just to be fair there should be at least 4th and 5th options, listed below.
4. Russian Dream backfires on Europe / conservative failure
The revival of right-wing conservatism doesn't lead to pan-Europeans unification against Muslims or any other foreigners, instead it leads to revival of bitter nationalism and mutual antagonism. At first Poland and Russia do their best to piss off each other, then Serbia and Croatia, then Germany joins in and France and Britain. As a result all hopes for a EU collapse, wars continue and lead to even more wars. US sighs at European sillyness and occasionally intervenes to protect its market interests.
5. United Socialist Europe / success of Marxism
The anti-capitalist movement somehow manages to gain significant success and eventually leads to revival of "Leninist tyrrany" [(c) DumbTeen]. TV and internet entertainment fails to satisfy the workers any more, until a communist revolution sweeps the continent, or at least part of it. This leads to hardline backslash everywhere else and makes the revival of fascism likely, possibly leading to a new world war or cold war.