Pro-EU Americans, part 1

Two years ago, Robert Kagan taught us that America was from Mars and Europe from Venus (i.e. Americans are real guys, Europeans are sissy wimps).  While sitting in class here in the US, I heard a former representant of the US at the UN say that Europe was committing a demographic suicide (He made me think a lot about the famous "culture of death" that neo-cons fight against).
This year, the latest fahion in the US is to see the EU as growing superpower. For example, a book called The United States Of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremacy is selling well. Here's what the publisher has to say about it:

While the United States flexes its economic and military muscles around the world as the dominant global player, it may soon have company. According to the Washington Post's T.R. Reid, the nations of Europe are setting aside differences to form an entity that's gaining strength, all seemingly unbeknownst to the U.S. and its citizens. The new Europe, Reid says, "has more people, more wealth, and more trade than the United States of America," plus more leverage gained through membership in international organizations and generous foreign aid policies that reap political clout. Reid tells how European countries were willing to discontinue their individual centuries-old currencies and adopt the Euro, the monetary unit that is now a dominant force in world markets. This is noteworthy not just for exploring the considerable economic impact of the Euro, but also for what that spirit of cooperation means for every facet of Europe in the 21st century, where governments and citizens alike believe that the rewards of banding together are worth a loss in sovereignty.

If you have read it, please leave you comment!

Comments

[Martin]

Reid's book is excellent, but there are lots of minor factual errors that constantly leap out at you and undermine its credibility.

Perhaps his most interesting contribution is the idea of a "Generation E" young middle class Europeans who are beginning to think of themselves primarily as Europeans.

The general arguement is that Americans ought to know more about European convergence because its economic power is beginning to be felt in the United States. He constantly refers back to a story about Jack Welsh clashing (unsuccessfully) with competition Commissioner Mario Monti over GM's attempted merger with Honeywell.

Reid is not entirely lauditory about Europe. He's critical of the risk-aversion he sees in opposition to GMOs and some other "precautionary principle"-based regulation, and sees European anti-Americanism as pretty much universal.

It's certainly worth a read.

[tovorinok]

Hello

Great book. I just want to say what a fantastic thing you are doing! Good luck!


G'night