Anyone who grew up in the 1970s will remember post-war Europe, where a third of Germany was behind the communist Iron Curtain, along with Poland, the Baltic States, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, partly Yugoslavia, Albania and, of course, Russia. But the countries of the West also faced political challenges. Spain and Portugal were dictatorships, Greece was ruled by a military junta.
The open countries were fewer in number than today. Free Europe consisted of the Nordic countries, the British Isles, France, Benelux, West Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. We can also count Cyprus among the free countries, they had a coup d’état in 1974 but it only lasted a few days.
As for West Germany, Austria and Italy, they were among the losers of the Second World War. And they had some political restrictions, Austria had to be neutral and not unite with Germany, and there were US military bases installed in these countries. So, they seemed democratic on the surface, but the question is, was there real autonomy and freedom? The US occupied and dominated Germany, Austria and Italy, albeit with kid gloves.
The rest of the European democratic countries were also dominated by American culture and values, and probably also by political pressure. Europe was in many ways a political prison, especially the authoritarian countries of the East and South, but also Western Europe, which was governed remotely from across the Atlantic.
We often forget this grim period after the Second World War. To make matters worse, half of Europe was bombed to pieces. Many chose to leave the authoritarian countries, seeking work in states that were less controlled. Some wanted to forget their roots and origins, they wanted to start afresh, the old was ugly, cruel and should be repressed. It was a golden opportunity for social engineers and integration promoters. Perhaps a unique point in history when assimilation and transformation could take place. But it was a historical exception, most people are proud of their culture and origin, even if they come from poor and backward countries. They do not want to be assimilated and transformed.
The 80s and 90s saw a real liberation of Europe, both East and South. And there was a time (before the EU consolidated its power) when Europe achieved a high degree of autonomy and freedom. Today, we have built a self-imposed prison where Union politicians rule Europe, and our local parliaments have been turned into rubber stamp companies that merely pass the dictates of the Brussels authorities.
I do not really know what all this is about. Do we not like freedom in Europe? Do we want to remain governed and controlled?
At the same time, we are seeing some attempts at secession from Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, among others. More and more countries are struggling with central power. Even Germany, often described as the engine of Europe, is beginning to turn against co-operation. The question is, what can we expect from these protests and dissenting views? Will the Union fracture, turning into a looser co-operation, or can Brussels force its member states to obey?
Central governments can threaten fines or expulsion, but it takes a unanimous decision to ban a country, and if the fines are not paid, there are no real remedies. We don’t have a common army, Brussels cannot send troops to Budapest or Bratislava. So, if we have a number of unruly states, the Union cannot do much about it.
On the other hand, Europe is still a strong economic power, we have innovative capabilities, and a strong tradition of community building and civilisation. What will it take for the continent to become a leader again? Divided or united. What will it take for us to leave the prison, and instead seek freedom and prosperity?
