20111208 Project Syndicate

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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