Just a comment about the absence of things - a few weeks ago I was back in my village and I went to the local cemetery. I looked at the cenotaph, looking at the names of soldiers who had been killed. It was obvious that many of the men listed had been part of the same family, uncles or cousins, they shared surnames.
What was missing, was any date later than 1945!
I am profoundly grateful to the EU (and the predecessor organisations) that they created the conditions for this situation! It’s one of the reasons why I am a passionate supporter of the EU.
This was a fantastic read, thank you! When I was at university reading history 50 years ago, this was too new to be considered history — and as a result, I never got a chance to learn about the founding of the first seeds of the EU. Since then I’ve moved to the Netherlands where being part of what became the EU was seen as a national story of great import. It’s not that so many decades later — sadly we have our own flirtation with the far right and across the age spectrum. But I believe that Europe will manage to remain a liberal democracy. We need to see if we can interesting some of the great film makers to tell this story!
Stories are indeed extremely powerful. It seems that the human brain evolved to respond to stories, so it is foolish not to use them if one wants to have an impact on the world.
As always, an excellent essay. My comment would be that you did not pay enough attention to the way that the Left, progressives and their fellow travellers are contributing their part to undermining liberal democracy. The Danish response to immigration compared to Biden’s is an interesting case in point.
Powerful piece that nails why narratives matter in politics. The Spaak story is perfect becauseit shows transformation through lived experience, not just theory. A man who advocated neutrality became NATO's secretary-general after seeing his country invaded twice precisely becuse neutrality failed. When liberal democrats retreat into technocratic language while their opponents tell emotionally resonant stories about decline,they surrender the ideological battlefield before the fight even starts. The generic Euro banknotes example is painfully telling, it's easier to avoid making choices than to risk offending someone by picking one story over another.
Thanks for this great post and the great link to that 1948 Time article. To answer your first question, yes I knew about Paul-Henri Spaak, but that's little surprise because I grew up in Belgium in the '50s. He did loom large in Belgian politics and during his NATO stint but, being a Socialist, he was suspect when you were not -- such were the divisions.
So special thanks for enlightening me on his illustrious political career.
May I recommend Mark De Vos, Superpower Europe - The European Union’s Silent Revolution, for a view of what the future of Europe will bring -- a transformation which is under way. Quoting my summary: "Simply put, Europe/the European Union is undergoing a fundamental transformation from a value-based entity (human rights, democracy, pluralism and rule of law) to an interest-based proto-federal state that must play the geopolitical game as a major power on par with the U.S. and China. Geostrategy, hard power and state intervention are the three pillars of the new EU."
It's a little more thoughtful than the Trump regime's "stark prospect of civilizational erasure" for Europe.
So important that young Canadians and westerners learn both about the sacrifices prior generations made and the solutions they came up with to avoid a repeat of industrial war
In an ideal world we could set up something like Birthright for young Canadians but to tour Vimy, Juno, and the Netherlands, avoiding the notion it honours us who weren’t there, but to encourage national cohesion and sacrifice from those alive today
Yes to stories, yes to passion. But I'm not sure that Spaak and his ilk are the best story today though a series on EU in the vein of the Deutschland series would be cool. I think the people tempted to vote for illiberalism need grassroots stories to motivate them about to value liberal democracy.
Great essay! As I responded a while ago to Mark Bourrie, another lover and promoter of our history, Americans are masters at mythologizing their history. Oh, that talented Canadians had the means and funds to do the same thing because I think the will is there. Also, your comment about Harper’s slight nod to Canadian history made me detest him slightly less.
People not only don’t understanding the history of why we created institutions, they disparage regulations, seeing only impediments rather than guardrails.
Tour a few museums in Portugal and Spain and I’m sure many others and you’ll appreciate they weren’t always the great and free countries they are now. No doubt the EU has some credit for that.
I’m sure not many people appreciate history that goes back much further than they can remember themselves. As a fellow Canadian I’m disappointed in too many people’s lack of knowledge or understanding of our history never mind world history.
Spaak does have a striking resemblance to Churchill!! The way Canada has been dismantled and controlled I have been wanting a strong advocate for freedom and democracy and an encouraging rally from a capable leader like CPC Pierre Poillievre!!! 🙏🏼 ✝️ 🇨🇦 🫶🏻 ✌🏼
Just a comment about the absence of things - a few weeks ago I was back in my village and I went to the local cemetery. I looked at the cenotaph, looking at the names of soldiers who had been killed. It was obvious that many of the men listed had been part of the same family, uncles or cousins, they shared surnames.
What was missing, was any date later than 1945!
I am profoundly grateful to the EU (and the predecessor organisations) that they created the conditions for this situation! It’s one of the reasons why I am a passionate supporter of the EU.
This was a fantastic read, thank you! When I was at university reading history 50 years ago, this was too new to be considered history — and as a result, I never got a chance to learn about the founding of the first seeds of the EU. Since then I’ve moved to the Netherlands where being part of what became the EU was seen as a national story of great import. It’s not that so many decades later — sadly we have our own flirtation with the far right and across the age spectrum. But I believe that Europe will manage to remain a liberal democracy. We need to see if we can interesting some of the great film makers to tell this story!
Excellent piece. Than you.
Stories are indeed extremely powerful. It seems that the human brain evolved to respond to stories, so it is foolish not to use them if one wants to have an impact on the world.
As always, an excellent essay. My comment would be that you did not pay enough attention to the way that the Left, progressives and their fellow travellers are contributing their part to undermining liberal democracy. The Danish response to immigration compared to Biden’s is an interesting case in point.
I agree. But a "here's how progressives contributed to this mess" essay would have to be an entirely different (and very long) essay.
Powerful piece that nails why narratives matter in politics. The Spaak story is perfect becauseit shows transformation through lived experience, not just theory. A man who advocated neutrality became NATO's secretary-general after seeing his country invaded twice precisely becuse neutrality failed. When liberal democrats retreat into technocratic language while their opponents tell emotionally resonant stories about decline,they surrender the ideological battlefield before the fight even starts. The generic Euro banknotes example is painfully telling, it's easier to avoid making choices than to risk offending someone by picking one story over another.
Thanks for this great post and the great link to that 1948 Time article. To answer your first question, yes I knew about Paul-Henri Spaak, but that's little surprise because I grew up in Belgium in the '50s. He did loom large in Belgian politics and during his NATO stint but, being a Socialist, he was suspect when you were not -- such were the divisions.
So special thanks for enlightening me on his illustrious political career.
May I recommend Mark De Vos, Superpower Europe - The European Union’s Silent Revolution, for a view of what the future of Europe will bring -- a transformation which is under way. Quoting my summary: "Simply put, Europe/the European Union is undergoing a fundamental transformation from a value-based entity (human rights, democracy, pluralism and rule of law) to an interest-based proto-federal state that must play the geopolitical game as a major power on par with the U.S. and China. Geostrategy, hard power and state intervention are the three pillars of the new EU."
It's a little more thoughtful than the Trump regime's "stark prospect of civilizational erasure" for Europe.
Great writing about the European Union past and present. Thanks.
So important that young Canadians and westerners learn both about the sacrifices prior generations made and the solutions they came up with to avoid a repeat of industrial war
In an ideal world we could set up something like Birthright for young Canadians but to tour Vimy, Juno, and the Netherlands, avoiding the notion it honours us who weren’t there, but to encourage national cohesion and sacrifice from those alive today
Yes to stories, yes to passion. But I'm not sure that Spaak and his ilk are the best story today though a series on EU in the vein of the Deutschland series would be cool. I think the people tempted to vote for illiberalism need grassroots stories to motivate them about to value liberal democracy.
That's a good observation. There are many stories, and yes, this would be an excellent approach.
Great essay! As I responded a while ago to Mark Bourrie, another lover and promoter of our history, Americans are masters at mythologizing their history. Oh, that talented Canadians had the means and funds to do the same thing because I think the will is there. Also, your comment about Harper’s slight nod to Canadian history made me detest him slightly less.
People not only don’t understanding the history of why we created institutions, they disparage regulations, seeing only impediments rather than guardrails.
Such a true and important essay. For God's sake can someone he's likely to pay attention to send it to Ken Burns?
Another question for you history fans; who is Bart de Wever?
Answer; the antithesis of Spaak.
So tragic .
Tour a few museums in Portugal and Spain and I’m sure many others and you’ll appreciate they weren’t always the great and free countries they are now. No doubt the EU has some credit for that.
I’m sure not many people appreciate history that goes back much further than they can remember themselves. As a fellow Canadian I’m disappointed in too many people’s lack of knowledge or understanding of our history never mind world history.
Spaak does have a striking resemblance to Churchill!! The way Canada has been dismantled and controlled I have been wanting a strong advocate for freedom and democracy and an encouraging rally from a capable leader like CPC Pierre Poillievre!!! 🙏🏼 ✝️ 🇨🇦 🫶🏻 ✌🏼
Got to love those pants!
Man’s stylin’.