"problems ... so immense...". Oh my, the countries of Europe are in fact extremely wealthy, with the best social services in the world,  to such an extent that many millions are trying to break down its fences to get in.  Get a grip. Its problems are politically serious because they are democracies, and in some of those countries the less educated, provincial people left behind by the economic transformation have formed a sufficiently coherent group  to elect reactionary politicians who want to turn back the clock.  That has never worked in the long run. At this time, massive investment in, and reform of, education and research will lead to new development and  uplift.