


A worrying new world order

Europe frets about its place in a different world order

See article

Readers' comments


Yankee Kid

The Europeans should be worried. If our election turns out the way you Europeans seem to want, you are going to be in deep trouble, more so that you can even imagine. That is because the American People did no ask for this leadership, it was forced on us. And you are quite right, it is difficult for a democratic nation of a free people to police the world. When the world responded to our leadership, it helped make it possible for us to help keep the peace, but even then it was difficult for us to make do without the help of those needing our help, we still tried. But this situation now seems to be changing for whatever the reason and this is not a good thing especially for Europe.
I was over there in the war (1945-1946) I saw the destruction of Europe. I also was there 1965-1982 and saw the racial cross-breeding and immigration pouring into Europe and the problems this was creating. All of this on top of very low birth rates and the destruction of families by high divorce rates. I think that it is going to be very difficult for the Europeans to go back in any way to before WW-II when they in fact controlled the world. The United States is running out of help for Europe and I am sad about that, plus the fact that we Europeans in the United States are also becoming a minority. Like the Economist says in their Climate Change article, it is an "Adapt or Die" situation, and all I can say with certainty is "life itself is temporary, and also very short for the lucky ones, if these problems continue", so why worry about climate change which will occur every day, and regardless ofhat we do, and who cares about the world climate change going on if we are dead and there is no one else left anyhow.


The USA started to behave like the schoolyard bully, now the Russians want to play too. Europe better start to pump some iron, so we wont be the push arounds.

surg onc

perhaps we should mention China when talking about a new world order? whether the topic is trade, economy, environment, migration, or security, a group of wealthy countries (G7) cannot dictate its wishes to the world anymore. the rise of a new power is fraught with difficulties to the incumbent "powers", but it cannot be ignored. maybe the age of "bipolar or multipolar disorder" of the world is at hand? or will sober minds help and accommodate newcomers into the table in peace and harmony?

Walter Bruno

The Russian term "Near-abroad" seemingly implies a claim for the right to meddle with the affairs of neighbours. The older American term "backyard South America" (Amerikas Hinterhof) seems to conject the same idea. Whereas the Russians are more blatant with their imperial claims, the Americans in true perfide Albion tradition have masqueraded theirs with the Monroe doctrin "(South)America to(US)Americans".
As long as the two expansionary powers are rivals, soft European power diligently and wisely executed could benefit from the situation without being a stooge of either power. Unfortunately, Britain will not listen.


Just to add to my last post. Without the US the EU will be nothing. Just let's remember who came to rescue Europe TWICE, when the Europeans were at each other's throats and nearly a past history but for the help from the US and the Commonwealth nations. give the honour where honour is due.


Iquatemi, if only the EU were all the things you wrote in your post. The latest incident caused by the Russians and Georgians showed too clearly that The EU needs close friends across the Atlantic. We in the EU can be an important trading block in the world, but we Europeans have a miserable track record in mutual defence. In fact, we never had any army which would fend for us. We have always had close ties with the USA and Canada, and let that continue, because North America is also the EU's important trading partner.The 27 members of the EU need to be in the NATO, without ifs or buts, and then maybe we can be an efficient free trading bloc.


Europe is a union of independent countries seeking democracy, the rule of law, peace and prosperity. Being that it attracts more and more other countries (e.g. Ukraine, Balkan and even North Africa). It is a mighty economy dwarfing the US, Japan and others (China, Russia) and with its healthy trade balance and its stability the outlook is not so bad. It has problems, but compared to the problems of countries such as Russia, China, or even the US (with its economy depending on undemocratic countries holding their bonds) are relatively easy managable.
Europe will not dominate the world (and doesnt want that anymore; 500 years are enough), but it influences it through its policies (setting standards), its economic might (e.g. the EURO), its diplomacy and its dominance in international institutions.
For the last 60 years the end of Europe was very often predicted, but it has always remained what it is today: a stable, rich, democratic, free and influential continent. And this will not change.


I for one am tired of the bias in Western media, which is clearly anti-Russian. Media, which keeps going over and over about Russian aggression and almost totally ignoring the fact that Georgia initiated the war. How can Western media complain about bias in non-Western countries yet be so biased itself. Also what about the hypocrisy of bashing Russia for recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both which have unique cultures that are different from Georgia yet being okay with Kosovo. How is Russian action different to what the West did in Serbia where a minority was attacked and then given its own homeland. How can there be 2 sets of rules in the world, one for the West and another for everyone else?


As more Europeans retire on fewer and fewer workers, while demanding more from the state while simultaneously resisting immigration from Muslim Africa and the Middle East, where do they think the poles will be? The US, China, India, Brazil and SE Asia is the answer.Unless of course advances in robotics and artificial intelligence allow cheap machines to replace basic manufacturing, assembly, packaging, agricultural jobs, and many service occupations. In that case the need for low cost labor will be eliminated and the whole world will turn topsy-turvy.

E car

Rasmus 1967,

There is false paradigm in your statements: Georgia and Georgians nationalistic and Russia and Russians internationalist. It is old soviet propaganda trick. In reality things are vice versa. Take facts for granted – still lot of Osetians live in Georgia outside south Ossetia. Vice versa – almost all Georgians were expelled from Russia or badly treated year ago during fears propaganda campaign. There is no Georgians in Ossetia or Abkhazia at all.
Second issue - how long on your understanding we should be grateful for Russia and Russians not starting war in 1991 and letting go free Eastern Europe? We forgave them some things but it cannot last forever.


I do not want to deny Russian brutality, but the way the Soviet Union fell apart was in many ways unfair to the Russians, and Europe ought to have more understanding of that, especially in this case, when Russia is only defending vulnerable minorities like the Ossetians, whose autonomy was cancelled as the first act of a new independent and nationalist Georgia, in which the Ossetians suddenly found themselves an awkward regional minority. I would tell Georgia the same thing as Serbia: "Too bad, but you blew it, get over it". Let the EU recognise South Ossetia, and who knows, perhaps Russia will reciprocate by not sending her sinister hitmen around Europe.


Remember how EU started? With the coal and steel acord betwenn France, Germany and several other countries? Integrating their economies helped created trust and cooperation. The dependance of Western Europe on Russian gas and (less so) oil, makes any future confrontation an impossibility. And that is good. And given the srinking population in both EU (with the exception of Britain mainly) and Russia, none really lacks "vital space".

EU is now like a young adult raising to maturity and independence from its two parents, US and Russia. What is happening now is just the quarrel between two paranoid adults (Russia, the ever beaten and abused woman that wants no more of it, and US, the paranoid man afraid of loosing power and control, 'cause if you don't f*** them, they'll f*** you).

EU just has to make up its mind and say that it doesn't want any more of it, and F*** off to both. And it doesn't need tguns to show off spine. I suspect EU is the biggest trading partner of the other two countries...If EU starts talks with the North African countries and shows more sympathy towards Iran (overlooking the nagging of Big Daddy), Russian gas becomes less important, and Turkey is a much safer place for transiting oil and gas pipes from Iran. That is the beauty of not living in a uni or bi-polar world. One can make his or her own world.


I've been saying it for 10 years now: a multi-polar world is not desirable and free people everywhere, but especially the Europeans, will fondly remember the days of "American hegemony". The United States has always been a country that promotes freedom and underpins the international economic and security order, and if it declines in power in relation to other powers the result will not be a world order run by bureaucratic Europe but the opposite: world disorder, economic uncertainty and more tyranny, even inside Europe. Be careful what you wish for, euroweenies!

Craig A.M.

Given the recent situation in the caucuses it is very important to pre-empt future border problems within Europe. A problem that should be resolved is the torn nation of Ukraine. If the Western and Orthodox civilisations are not to be dragged into conflict when the unsustainable nation of Ukraine implodes it is vitally important that diplomats from Europe and Russia agree on terms for a peaceful dissolution of what is currently called the Ukraine.
Might I suggest that the Russian speaking component be named the Russian Ukraine and should be subject to no further interference from the Western Axis.


Latest blog posts - All times are GMT
The Economist on China: Weekly round-up
Analects 1 hrs 45 mins ago
Writing worth reading: Dark matter
Babbage March 15th, 14:43


Products & events