Kinda the former. We are witnessing the slow collapse of the US global empire (along with its European wing), and like other instances of hegemonic empires collapsing it’s not going to be pretty (think collapse of the Roman Empire) but it’s ultimately a system collapsing rather than society collapsing.
The same far right rot—propelled by the same declining living standards and affordability crises—that’s destroying America from the inside is also spreading rapidly in Europe, and the only group in a position to do anything about it is the same corporate centrists who failed to prevent it in America. The fundamental cause of America’s ongoing collapse—the ruling class’s inability/unwillingness to restrain the excesses of the system against the working class—is essentially identical to what’s going on in Europe. Europe might not feel like it’s collapsing, but America didn’t ten years ago either.
Yeah, but Europe, despite having the same idiotic centrists in power in a lot of places, has much stronger democratic institutions and systems to push back.
As much as I see far right pushes, they can’t fuck over the whole continent at the same time like they did in the US. Brexit had a backlash, AfD winning would show how shit they are to other countries. Also, there are more varied stuff going on, there is a lot of shit to hope about as well.
Hungary of all places might get a wealth tax going on this year for example. It’s not all bad. We just killed not just Chat Control 2.0, but also the already implemented first iteration was rolled back.
has much stronger democratic institutions and systems to push back.
I strongly doubt that (the US system of checks and balances isn’t weak; it’s just thoroughly compromised), but also even the strongest fort is useless without soldiers to defend it. These systems are meant to help the elites protect liberal democracy; defensive democracy is useless (or outright counterproductive, see Germany and Palestine solidarity) if the elites don’t want to use it. There are ways for the masses to protect democracy, but those don’t happen in courts and legislatures.
Brexit had a backlash
Sure, but it doesn’t seem to have discredited its far right backers.
AfD winning would show how shit they are to other countries.
Never expect rightwingers to meaningfully engage with reality. If real-life demonstrations were enough, Trump’s victory would’ve destroyed all far-right politics everywhere. That said I’m not arguing that all European countries will go fascist, only that enough will do so that Europe as a whole will lose most of its international influence. There’s no way Britain or France for example can compete with Russia or China on the international relations front (France in fact is failing right as we speak in West Africa); it takes the whole EU to keep Europe a world power player.
Yeah as concerning as the present historical moment is to live through, i’m really excited about the light it can shine on the past - what imperial transitions look like.
Kinda the former. We are witnessing the slow collapse of the US global empire (along with its European wing), and like other instances of hegemonic empires collapsing it’s not going to be pretty (think collapse of the Roman Empire) but it’s ultimately a system collapsing rather than society collapsing.
Stupid question, I don’t feel like Europe is collapsing in any way. Can you tell me why would you say that?
The same far right rot—propelled by the same declining living standards and affordability crises—that’s destroying America from the inside is also spreading rapidly in Europe, and the only group in a position to do anything about it is the same corporate centrists who failed to prevent it in America. The fundamental cause of America’s ongoing collapse—the ruling class’s inability/unwillingness to restrain the excesses of the system against the working class—is essentially identical to what’s going on in Europe. Europe might not feel like it’s collapsing, but America didn’t ten years ago either.
Yeah, but Europe, despite having the same idiotic centrists in power in a lot of places, has much stronger democratic institutions and systems to push back.
As much as I see far right pushes, they can’t fuck over the whole continent at the same time like they did in the US. Brexit had a backlash, AfD winning would show how shit they are to other countries. Also, there are more varied stuff going on, there is a lot of shit to hope about as well.
Hungary of all places might get a wealth tax going on this year for example. It’s not all bad. We just killed not just Chat Control 2.0, but also the already implemented first iteration was rolled back.
I strongly doubt that (the US system of checks and balances isn’t weak; it’s just thoroughly compromised), but also even the strongest fort is useless without soldiers to defend it. These systems are meant to help the elites protect liberal democracy; defensive democracy is useless (or outright counterproductive, see Germany and Palestine solidarity) if the elites don’t want to use it. There are ways for the masses to protect democracy, but those don’t happen in courts and legislatures.
Sure, but it doesn’t seem to have discredited its far right backers.
Never expect rightwingers to meaningfully engage with reality. If real-life demonstrations were enough, Trump’s victory would’ve destroyed all far-right politics everywhere. That said I’m not arguing that all European countries will go fascist, only that enough will do so that Europe as a whole will lose most of its international influence. There’s no way Britain or France for example can compete with Russia or China on the international relations front (France in fact is failing right as we speak in West Africa); it takes the whole EU to keep Europe a world power player.
Yeah as concerning as the present historical moment is to live through, i’m really excited about the light it can shine on the past - what imperial transitions look like.