European Union
The EU and the Death of Synthetic Nations
In some ways, the rise of the European Union goes well with the trend toward increasing international integration. In that sense, it’s of a part with NAFTA, GATT and other agreements which tie nations together by treaty.
On the other hand, it runs counter to most of the past two decades of history. Everywhere the trend has been for synthetic nations to dissolve their bonds, replaced by nation-states centered on a single nationality. The Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia have all fallen apart. The British Uberkultur is fraying, and its constituent nations are devolving toward independence. Even Belgium teetered recently on the edge of oblivion.
So what to make of the EU? I think it’s successfully integrating for a couple of reasons. 1. The process is undemocratic. None of the political leaders driving the process give a fig about their people’s opinions, so the EU is insulated from the trend toward devolution. 2. People don’t take the EU seriously as even a quasi-nation. I have yet to meet a “European.”
Despite its pretensions, the EU will likely never succeed in inculcating a lasting national identity on its subjects. Instead, it will remain as another smothering level of bureaucracy accreted upon the creaking Nanny States already afflicting Europe. Given the faceless, unresponsive nature of the EU bureaucracy, it’s more likely to create Euro-peons than Europeans. . .
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Actually, the EU seems most likely to create the Caliphate, at present. . . .
Ha!
A very good point. . . They may not succeed with a European identity, but perhaps, Eurabian?
“I have yet to meet a “European.” ”
Here I am, your “European”. I am Austrian as well, but why should that make it impossible for me to be European as well?
I dont think that this term is one of nationality however. It’s above the local nationality, but much more than a random geographical term like “Asian” that means everything and nothing at the same time.
I am citizen of both, of Austria and the EU. The EU citizenship brings a certain number of quite important rights with it that I would not want to miss.
Slartibartfas -
Thanks so much for stopping by.
“Here I am, your “European”. I am Austrian as well, but why should that make it impossible for me to be European as well?”
I understand what you’re saying, but I’m not referring to citizenship, but to national identity. Synthetic national identities such as “British,” “Soviet,” “Belgian,” “Yugoslavian,” or “Czechoslovak” weren’t merely regional identities, but primary, national ones. You still meet people from Britain who refer to themselves as “British” rather than English or Welsh, for instance. When someone asks where you’re from, do you really say, “Oh, I’m European”? If so, you’re unique, in my experience. . .
The EU is not trying to create a “synthetic nationality” in my opinion.
But isn’t the US also a “synthetic nationality” in principle?
Regarding the point about Britain and also Belgium. People sometimes miss one important here, those structural weaknesses of some memberstates can happen easier because the EU creates a stable frame where many political issues where size matters can be handled.
(On the other side, I don’t think that the EU is interested in seeing separatism among member states. Its of large interest to not unnecessarily increase the number of member states even further by such a thing, thats also why those movements in Britain or Belgium might have it difficult to realize their dreams)
Your last question probably depends on whom I am speaking to. I hardly will tell another European when being asked where I am from: “Oh from Europe”
In the US I have already said both in different situations, European as well as Austrian. But Americans usually are not satisfied with the answer “European” they want to hear something like Austria, France or whatever.