I grew up in Germany and studied in England. Brexit is, simply, gutting.
But Europeans who want to make their project work now need to look in the mirror. The reality of the EU has drifted far from the values on which was built.
Let's fix that.
[Thread]
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
But Europeans who want to make their project work now need to look in the mirror. The reality of the EU has drifted far from the values on which was built.
Let's fix that.
[Thread]
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
The EU can thrive without Britain. It cannot thrive without the trust and affection of its own citizens.
Brexit thus isn't an existential threat to the EU. The double crisis of democratic legitimacy that makes citizens skeptical of the EU is.
This crisis has two elements.
Brexit thus isn't an existential threat to the EU. The double crisis of democratic legitimacy that makes citizens skeptical of the EU is.
This crisis has two elements.
1)
Citizens feel they have little control over what goes on in Berlin or Paris.
They feel that they have virtually no control over what goes on in Brussels.
Why? Because the path from citizen to decision-maker is as indirect in the EU as it was in some 19th century monarchies.
Citizens feel they have little control over what goes on in Berlin or Paris.
They feel that they have virtually no control over what goes on in Brussels.
Why? Because the path from citizen to decision-maker is as indirect in the EU as it was in some 19th century monarchies.
2) The rise of populist strongmen
Many German citizens are happy to share their sovereignty with French citizens to facilitate trade and solve big problems.
But why should German citizens be willing to share their sovereignty with aspiring dictators in Warsaw or Budapest?
Many German citizens are happy to share their sovereignty with French citizens to facilitate trade and solve big problems.
But why should German citizens be willing to share their sovereignty with aspiring dictators in Warsaw or Budapest?
For the EU to succeed, it needs to make two big changes:
1) Make EU institutions more democratic and return some powers to nation states where appropriate.
2) Adopt realistic mechanisms for suspend subsidies and voting rights for member states that veer away from democracy.
1) Make EU institutions more democratic and return some powers to nation states where appropriate.
2) Adopt realistic mechanisms for suspend subsidies and voting rights for member states that veer away from democracy.
Europeans owe a huge debt of gratitude to the courage and imagination of the EU's founders.
But today's politicians take the wrong lessons from their predecessors. Instead of emulating their imagination, they treat EU institutions as holy relics.
This immobilism is dangerous.
But today's politicians take the wrong lessons from their predecessors. Instead of emulating their imagination, they treat EU institutions as holy relics.
This immobilism is dangerous.
I love Europe.
But *especially* those who love Europe now need to take a hard look in the mirror. Let's figure out how to make this project—which has done so much for the continent—inspire again.
Please read and share the full article @TheAtlantic!
[End]theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
But *especially* those who love Europe now need to take a hard look in the mirror. Let's figure out how to make this project—which has done so much for the continent—inspire again.
Please read and share the full article @TheAtlantic!
[End]theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
