As I have mentioned in a recent post, I have had to travel to Europe for 10 short days, most of which were centered on my mother’s health issues. Still, crossing the Atlantic and returning to Europe was not without interest for me as it allowed me to take a short, but interested, look at what had changed since my departure six years ago. While some things had not changed at all (the food there is still excellent) other things truly surprised me.
More than anything else, I was absolutely baffled, and greatly disappointed, by how little original political thought I found in Europe, at least judging by the media. Sure, Dubya is as hated and despised as ever, but beyond that there is very little original European political vision. Sarkozy is in much more trouble for being rude then for being a foam-at-his-mouth Neocon. The USA is criticized for its violations of international law in Iraq, but most Europeans seem to think that the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo and, which is even worse, the wide recognition of this wholly illegal (not to mention fictional) independence is really no big deal. Worst of all, I have found out that not only do European talking heads mindlessly parrot all the anti-Russian nonsense of their American counterparts, but that they are even more rabid in what I can only describe as some bizarre anti-Russian hysteria. The sad reality is that on every single political issue I can think of the Europeans are either indistinguishable or worse than the US Neocons.
Speaking of being worse, I had the “opportunity”, so to speak, to watch the idiot-box in Europe and I have to say that it is at least as toxic and mindless as the worst the US TV stations have to offer. Ditto for the printed media.
All in all, Europe (judging from the two countries I visited and from what I could see on the idiot-box) left me the impression of a “flaccid” society without much of an identity and with nothing at all in its guts to counterbalance the Empire in any way. Which is maybe why anti-Russian feelings are so strong, at least among the European pundits.
Russia, for all its (numerous) ills and deficiencies, is clearly breaking free from the Empire and while I do not particularly care for the “national-Bolshevik” ideology used by Putin and his supporters for consensus-building inside Russia, I have to admit that the actual policies followed by Russia are fundamentally pragmatic and sound. And when European complain about the lack of a free press in Russia they can only hope to get away with such baloney by counting on the fact that most of their audience cannot check for itself whether this is true or not. Likewise, Russians had a far more diverse choice of candidates to choose from during the recent presidential election than the Americans could ever dream for. Could it be that European elites dislike Russia precisely because it is now powerful, rich, diverse and independent from the Empire they still sheepishly continue to genuflect to?
I used to look down on Eastern European countries for their abject courting of the USA and NATO, for their lack of national pride, for their childish desire to appease their new masters. I now feel the same way about the rest of Europe: “Old Europe” (to use Rummy’s famous expression) or “New Europe” – there is nothing there which would lead me to believe that any good came come from it.
Admittedly, 10 days is a short time to get a sense of what is going on and I might be mistaken in my bleak outlook on Europe. I would very much like to hear from others and be given reasons to hope for the future of my home continent. So if you can offer some insights, whichever side of the Atlantic you live on, please share them with me and post your comments here.
Many thanks,
The Saker
The government in The Netherlands tends to follow the USA rather uncritically …. For the rest, the press (tv, I never watch it because of: ) is very much focused on this small country itself. I and a few others tend to live in “inner exile”…
America is much more pro Russian than Europe. America is being dragged by Europe and many other countries away from this position.
President Bush remains pro-Russian and pro-Putin. But he is increasingly isolated from his party and the rest of America.
President Bush meant it when he said that he looked into Putin’s soul.
I have long been a fan of Putin. My main beef with him is:
retrenchment on freedom and to a lesser degree democracy inside Russia (which will be a huge problem in the transition to post Putin Russia)
His antagonistic stance towards smaller countries on issues that don’t affect Russia very much.
He needs to reach out to smaller countries more, and manage the rhetoric that comes out of the Kremlin.
I would note that President Bush feels that Putin is being helpful on Iran.
well, there is one bright spot over there. Estonia seems to be moving in the right direction.
good to see you back, vin.
VS,
I’m an American and I am not familiar with European politics, but I can not say I am surprised by the subservience and kowtowing to America’s neocons in Europe. First of all, has any European country been really free to pursue an independent foreign policy since the end of WWII? Maybe France?
There are American bases throughout Germany, the Balkans, Poland, and now the Czech republic. They are essentially from what I can tell imperial subjects rather than independent nation states. They are conquered people rather than freemen–whether they know it or not.
As far as public opinion, the media is likely to be as controlled as it is here and discourse as constricted. The financial and media elites of both continents are strongly aligned with the neocons. They share the same strong sympathies toward Israel and the same war agenda, so I guess I would be more surprised if they did not have the same agenda.
It may well be that nothing will change until the Judeo-American grip on world power is broken.
-American Pessimist
VS,
Happy to see you writing again. I always look forward to your comments and your reader’s comments. And I hope all is well with your family.
A question for you: was your observations of European feelings based on TV, radio and mainstream Euro media? Did you get the sense that most of your peers among European intellectuals share the neocon worldview?
@Anna: alas, in many ways the government of The Netherlands is one of the worst and most bellicose in Europe. This saddens me a lot as I have family in Holland and I like the Dutch people a lot whom I know to be far better than the warmongering folks governing them.
@Tim: what can I say, if the economic policies of Estonia make free market capitalists happy, Estonia is also a NATO puppet state with a rather ugly nationalist slant to it. I cannot say that I am inspired in the least by its example. Thanks for your kind words!
@American Pessimist: I understand your feelings of discouragement, but keep in mind that while the Western governments might be supportive of what you (correctly) call the Judeo-American Empire, that Empire also contains its own seeds of self-destruction in its very nature and essence. It will go the way of all other empires: it will collapse under its own weight.
@anonymous: A question for you: was your observations of European feelings based on TV, radio and mainstream Euro media? Did you get the sense that most of your peers among European intellectuals share the neocon worldview?
Good question. As I mentioned my trip was short so none of the comments above should be seen as anything but subjective impressions. A lot of these impressions did come from watching the idiot-box and skimming throught the local corporate press, but I did find some time to talk to some good people who are well informed of what is going on. I would not say that European intellectuals are all pro-Neocon, not at all, but those with access to the corporate media mostly are. My sense is that most people in Europe with a brain and a conscience are gradually going into an “internal exile” not unlike what people in the USSR and today’s USA are doing. Democracy is dying in Europe also and thus participation becomes nonsensical. Look at the example of the European Constitution which was rejected in popular referenda and which is now brought right back by ministerial decision. That kind of arrogant attitude of the European rulers is simply turning people away from the entire democratic process. Just like in the USA violent revolt is not really an option either, so what people are left with is internal exile and the Internet. All in all a sad and discouraging reality.
Europeans may not wish to talk about it openly, but the fact is Europe has been the prime beneficiary of the American world order. International trade and banking have always been ordered to give the U.S. and its western allies an edge.
So long as that system was stable, Europeans had the luxury of open disagreement and criticism. In 2002 the system must have seemed stable enough for a major disagreement about the upcoming invasion of Iraq. Tempers were heated, talk of freedom fries and cheese eating surrender monkeys was everywhere. But anyone anticipating a long term rift between the U.S. and Europe was mistaken. Differences were patched over and largely in America’s favor. What happened?
Simply, the previously stable system is visibly starting to fray. Along with that is the realization in Europe that they will float with the Americans or sink on their own.
Living in NL I listen to the BBC World Service which tells me that the Polish government will comply with placing US rockets which we are told are directed against aggression from Iran and by no means are meant to be aimed at Russia. Anyone who believes this garbage does not deserve any better.
There were times the BBC was not gleichgeschaltet as it usually is nowadays – not even or should I say especially in the days when the Tories were still fuylly in charge. That is the reason I listen to it or watch it, there is – alas! – no alternative. But generally newsmedia follow the NATO/US-agenda, so in that sense you can fairly say there is such a thing as Europe, which normally speaking I would not accept…
@adr:That is the reason I listen to it or watch it, there is – alas! – no alternative. Sure there is, at least on the Internet: DemocracyNow, Real News Network, PRESS TV, Al-Jazeera, RussiaToday TV online – and that’s just TV stations. Add to this all the excellent radio stations (such as KPFK 90.7 in California) and gazillions of excellent websites (I think of Counterpunch for example) and you will see that the world is awash in free and independent information sources.
Ever since the wars in the former Yugoslavia the BBC has lost any pretense of objectivity or fairness and has turned into a rather obedient imperial outlet. There are still some excellent individual reporters and shows (I think of the fantastic John Pilger here), but all in all the BBC has gone the FOX way :-(
Of course I was only referring to the radio I wake up to in the morning and the telly which puts me to sleep at night..
:^)
i was in the old country (technically my parents’ old country) for ten days myself this january, and it was very lovely to see family i hadn’t seen in decades, and to be in a place where american actions are not swallowed whole. a neoliberal party, started about ten years ago, has collapsed, and the transit of US troops is blasted by a majority of the population. not that it helps – the government cut a secret deal allowing US access to this ‘neutral’ country’s largest airport.
PS – i laid a chunk of change on democracy now last month. supporting these outlets has become fundamentally important. everyone should cough up some cash for the shows mentioned by VS above.
Free Europe!
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