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the sovereignty of individual European nation-states, give up on
the common currency, andabandon a dream that is threatening to
become a nightmare.This is what the more radical Euroskeptics in
Britain think, having never shared the EU dream tobegin with. It is
easy to dismiss this as typical British chauvinism the insular
attitude of a peopleliving in splendid isolation. But, in Britains
defense, its citizens have had a longer and moresuccessful
democratic history than have most continental Europeans.Still, even
if disbanding Europe were possible, it would come at enormous cost.
Abandoning theeuro, for example, would cripple the continents
banking system, affecting both Germany and theaffluent north and
the distressed countries in the south. And, if the Greek and
Italian economiesface difficult recoveries inside the eurozone,
consider how hard it would be to repay euro-denominated debts with
devalued drachmas or liras.Quite apart from the financial aspects,
there would be a real danger of throwing away the benefitsthat the
EU has brought, particularly in terms of Europes standing in the
world. In isolation,European countries would have limited global
significance. As a union, Europe still matters a greatdeal.The
alternative to dismantling the EU is to strengthen it to pool the
debt and create a Europeantreasury. If European citizens are to
accept this, however, the EU needs more democracy. But
that depends upon a vital sense of European solidarity, which
will not come from anthems, flags,or other gimmicks devised by
bureaucrats in Brussels.For starters, affluent northern Europeans
have to be convinced that it is in their interest tostrengthen the
EU, as it certainly is. After all, they have benefited most from
the euro, which hasenabled them to export cheaply to southern
Europeans. While it is up to national politicians tomake this case,
the EUs governing institutions in Brussels, Luxembourg, and
Strasbourg alsohave to be brought closer to European
citizens.Perhaps Europeans could vote for members of the European
Commission, with candidatescampaigning in other countries, rather
than just in their own. Perhaps Europeans could elect
apresident.Democracy may seem like a mad dream in a community of 27
nation-states, and perhaps it is.But unless one is prepared to give
up on building a more united Europe, it is surely
worthconsidering.And who can say what is possible? Consider
football clubs, the modern worlds most insular, eventribal
institutions. Thirty years ago, who would have imagined that two of
Londons most popularclubs Arsenal and Chelsea would have a French
and a Portuguese coach, respectively, andplayers from Spain,
France, Portugal, Brazil, Russia, Serbia, the Czech Republic,
Poland, Mexico,Ghana, South Korea, Holland, Belgium, Nigeria, and
the Ivory Coast? Oh, yes, they have one ortwo from Britain,
too.
Ian Buruma is Professor of Democracy and Human Rights at Bard
College, and the
author ofTaming the Gods: Religion and Democracy on Three
Continents.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2011.
www.project-syndicate.org
