The above title is the title of an email I received today from Bloomberg News for this article below. Just reading the title alone on my phone I assumed this relates to the West & Europe when considering the enormous geopolitical challenges we face today but it turns out that it’s about the future of the Iranian regime. However when I read the article I came to the conclusion that same applies in many ways to Europe and here’s why;
In the case of Europe it ain’t “strictly” about the future of democratic governance in Europe internally – though that’s another interesting story altogether – but about the colonial mentality that continues to drive foreign policy in many corners of European capitals in keeping with old debunked strategies/mentality that effectively created conflicts around the world and continues to undermine world order to this day. Even the term European values that are now considered a given are in fact universal values though at some stage Europe and west have been key proponents of such values mostly in theory but with a mixed bag when it comes to actual practice; here they are – some of them – just for clarity (Human dignity – Democracy – Rule of law – Human rights – Equality (including gender equality and minority rights) – Freedom of expression and religion – Social solidarity and welfare protections).
So in my opinion – and sorry I know I’m throwing plenty of those around – Europe needs – before working primarily on trade/economic deals – to spare sometime to come up with a more pragmatic/realistic vision based on hard earned lessons from the past yet squarely driven by current realities & future aspirations within a more global context not just a European one. That’s one way Europe has the capacity to lead not just through hard power but more importantly soft power. Every corner on this earth is desperately looking for that kind of leadership and Europe has some left over credentials which it can either use or lose cause the world is moving/changing rather quickly or do the “third” best thing, more trade deals.
Just a thought…