Re: The irony of course is that the EU was supposed to reduce this need for faux nationalism.....and yet, it still goes on.
Actually, the EU did succeed in reducing chauvinism --about 10 years ago when the €(euro) was put into circulation across 16 countries (the eurozone). Thrifty countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg,...) agreed to share their strong currencies with the "lazy" bums from southern Europe...
It's wrong, however, to consider the current revival of nationalism as a new jingoism. Today's secessionist politics in Europe is strictly limited to fiscal/financial issues. Flanders, Catalonia, Padania, Scotland, etc. don't seek to have their own military, their own foreign policy or even their own immigration policy... For centuries, European elites have mingled together with the consent of their peoples. In Belgium, for instance, we have had a German prince as our first king: Leopold I. The late king Baudouin married a Spanish noble (Queen Fabiola) whereas the current king Albert II is married to a noble scioness from Italy, Queen Paola...
Somehow, most Europeans are ready to share just about everything with their European fellows... except money.
Gus |
