This author is a bit “glass half empty” on Europe, but makes some interesting observations. The essay argues that the 2025 shift could catalyze Europe’s emergence as a rival geopolitical actor or “empire”. The European Union currently lacks the core elements of sovereign power, especially military force and a cohesive narrative. True empire, the author suggests, requires a unified elite, monopoly on force, and cultural self‑confidence, which Europe simply lacks although steps are taken in that direction.
The piece also critiques rising imperial thought in global politics, noting that traditional empires like the US, China and Russia are now exhibiting overtly imperial behavior instead of their earlier covert imperialism. Ultimately, the author suggests that without clear strategy and cohesion, neither US rhetoric nor European aspirations will produce a stable new order, but they may nonetheless prompt Europe toward greater autonomy and power.
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This author is a bit “glass half empty” on Europe, but makes some interesting observations. The essay argues that the 2025 shift could catalyze Europe’s emergence as a rival geopolitical actor or “empire”. The European Union currently lacks the core elements of sovereign power, especially military force and a cohesive narrative. True empire, the author suggests, requires a unified elite, monopoly on force, and cultural self‑confidence, which Europe simply lacks although steps are taken in that direction.
The piece also critiques rising imperial thought in global politics, noting that traditional empires like the US, China and Russia are now exhibiting overtly imperial behavior instead of their earlier covert imperialism. Ultimately, the author suggests that without clear strategy and cohesion, neither US rhetoric nor European aspirations will produce a stable new order, but they may nonetheless prompt Europe toward greater autonomy and power.