Europe Is Still a Second-Rate Power

[haidian]

Europe Is Still a Second-Rate Power
STAGNANT02.21.15

In this bipolar world forged in the context of U.S. vs China competition, Europe will likely be a bit player, wooed by both but essential to neither. In the 21st century, the road to power will not run through Paris or Berlin but through Beijing and Washington. Like the great leaders of the post-war era, American politicians and statesmen need to acknowledge the new reality of the post-European world and begin to address its implications.

Europe Is Still a Second-Rate Power - The Daily Beast

 

[Indian Patriot]

The age of Europe is over.

 

[Nike]

But hey, we are talking about Europe in China & Far East Section ?

 

[Khalid Newazi]

Europe live in the past, they think that they still have the same power they did under their Imperialism. But in reality their military might is nothing without the US (aka NATO) and the power of European Union over global affairs is also decreasing, not to mention several of their already members want to leave it.

 

[Place Of Space]

The thin camel is still larger than a horse.

 

[Indian Patriot]

The thin camel is still larger than a horse.

A healthy horse is better than a large thin camel who can't walk two steps without a respirator.

Europeans are living in the past where they believed white men are the best.Today that continent is going down the drain. Countries like Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and even England have SEVERE economic issues which need immediate handling. Germany is the only man standing there. France is a joke and a wannabe USA.

Countries like Thailand, Malaysia etc. have a higher growth rate and healthier economy by comparison.

21st century is the age of Asia and countries like Brazil. Europe is on its final hours.

 

[Paksanity]

Europe can not be written off just yet. They have cutting edge technology. Their budgets are shrinking but they are still a force to be reckoned with.

EU may be partially to be blamed. When Europe was fighting each other, they strived to stay ahead of each other militarily. With NATO, fall of Berlin wall and collapse of Soviet Union threat to Europe almost disappeared. While it was good in terms of peace and stability, Europeans were not as much concerned with security and power projection. Yet they are diverse enough that they can't work as a single nation.

Rise of Russia may trigger a European response and they are capable enough to become a global power again. Don't under estimate Europeans.

 

[Gauss]

Didnt read the article but would say that something very interesting is happening (albeit slowly) in europe these days. i.e Integration. Thats the thing that will make superpowers in the future. Soon all counties will have fully developed and structured economies. After that power will be only a function of size. Countries will fuse together to become bigger entities. It has started first in europe.

 

[Indian Patriot]

European peak was during their days of colonialism when they plundered wealth of weak countries. Today those weak countries have matured and become big. Europe has nothing going for them. Only problem is Germany which has a substantial coal reserve. Rest are tottering on the brink of bankruptcy.

 

[Schutz]

A healthy horse is better than a large thin camel who can't walk two steps without a respirator.

Europeans are living in the past where they believed white men are the best.Today that continent is going down the drain. Countries like Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and even England have SEVERE economic issues which need immediate handling. Germany is the only man standing there. France is a joke and a wannabe USA.

Countries like Thailand, Malaysia etc. have a higher growth rate and healthier economy by comparison.

21st century is the age of Asia and countries like Brazil. Europe is on its final hours.

What crap are you spouting, I can agree to an extent that the 21st century is the time for Asia etc BUT and its a big BUT is because your all so far behind and it will take decades and a severe stagnation and downfall in Europe for your living standards to get anyway NEAR ours, thats the big difference. The continent is not going down the drain, historically poor countries which are generally the poorest in Europe are suffering but still, I would rather live in Greece than India/Bangladesh/Pakistan and I imagine 99% of you would to, that probably wont change. The UK is not suffering severe economic issues, they have been improving steadily, we have R&d and technology in the mainstream that your people will never see, the only thing we will see in south Asian countries in the coming decades is incredible wealth inequality.

We do not live in the past, we have been in the situation we are in for decades, our living standards are at a peak and given our general vast diversification in our economies we are not going to suddenly fall down to your level of slums and disease, we might drop a bit but it will still be a high living standard, Brazil is majority white aswell if you want to think that white men are against you etc etc


Its not about military or prospects for GDP growth, our people are looked after and we dont have long term prospects for growth but we dont need to, we have been like this for centuries, its not going to change because others are becoming more wealthy, how stupid are you that your logic means one becoming wealthy means another loses its wealth, it just means we all become more wealthy and equal. I hate taking things personal/getting argumentative ove r countries but south Asians seem to think they are destined to rule the world, your not, your human and your all racist beyond belief.

 

[Indian Patriot]

What crap are you spouting, I can agree to an extent that the 21st century is the time for Asia etc BUT and its a big BUT is because your all so far behind and it will take decades and a severe stagnation and downfall in Europe for your living standards to get anyway NEAR ours, thats the big difference. The continent is not going down the drain, historically poor countries which are generally the poorest in Europe are suffering but still, I would rather live in Greece than India/Bangladesh/Pakistan and I imagine 99% of you would to, that probably wont change. The UK is not suffering severe economic issues, they have been improving steadily, we have R&d and technology in the mainstream that your people will never see, the only thing we will see in south Asian countries in the coming decades is incredible wealth inequality.

We do not live in the past, we have been in the situation we are in for decades, our living standards are at a peak and given our general vast diversification in our economies we are not going to suddenly fall down to your level of slums and disease, we might drop a bit but it will still be a high living standard, Brazil is majority white aswell if you want to think that white men are against you etc etc


Its not about military or prospects for GDP growth, our people are looked after and we dont have long term prospects for growth but we dont need to, we have been like this for centuries, its not going to change because others are becoming more wealthy, how stupid are you that your logic means one becoming wealthy means another loses its wealth, it just means we all become more wealthy and equal. I hate taking things personal/getting argumentative ove r countries but south Asians seem to think they are destined to rule the world, your not, your human and your all racist beyond belief.

You are still living in a colonial hangover, refusing to see the writing on the wall.

Asia does not mean only India. Asia means countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Brunei, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and also Japan. And lets not even get started with the oil-rich super-wealthy Arab states like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia etc. Last but not the least there is also China. These countries would easily rival, and even outclass, Europe in terms of wealth and economy.

You may live in Antratica but that does not mean Greece is a better country than Singapore. You chose Greece, I will choose Singapore. At least Asian countries do not have the back-breaking debt that Europeans suffer from.

What R&D are you boasting about? An Indian company TATA just took over Jaguar and British steel industry. We are living in 2015, not 1915. And this is only about India. Forget other Asian countries. Does England have anything of comparison to Samsung and Sony? Does England even have anything of compare to TATA?

Where all is english economy diversified, in what sectors? What are the natural resources within england to sustain her economy? Good that you mentioned Brazil, they will overtake you as well. Europe is going to be a big LOL in next decade.

How are you going to sustain your wealth when Asian economies take over your markets? Where are you going to sale your products? France at least has Michelin, Germany has its brand of luxury cars. What does England have in brand that is world famous? The world does not have enough wealth for every country on the planet to have the economy of the size of USA. USA became super power at the cost of UK and France in case you forgot.

And I don't care whether you are getting personal or not. I have seen quite a few morons here trying to get personal when they run out of facts. And now I am a racist? LOL!!!

 

[Brutas]

Which Asia, one may ask, so may regional entities (Central Asia, South Asia, South East Asia, North East Asia...). However, certain regional entities definitely has potential but biggest obstacle is geo-political in nature. Most nations are at each others throat like in the Mid East. EU being a smaller geographic entity is much integrated than other regions.

 

[haidian]

I believe that East Asia's economy( PRC China, Japan, Koreas, Taiwan, Hongkong,Singapore) will soon overtake that of Europe.

 

[Indian Patriot]

Which Asia, one may ask, so may regional entities (Central Asia, South Asia, South East Asia, North East Asia...). However, certain regional entities definitely has potential but biggest obstacle is geo-political in nature. Most nations are at each others throat like in the Mid East. EU being a smaller geographic entity is much integrated than other regions.

Asia extends from the middle eastern states like Saudi Arabia all the way to Japan. The whole continent is Asia.

Good that you mentioned geo-political concerns because right now there is a war going on in Europe over Ukraine and 4-5 states are having a heavy debt crisis, most prominently Greece.

The integration of Europe is for all to see when Greece demanded money from Germany and even said a Nazi country should not harass Greece. Many people mistake Europe to be a paradise. Europe is rich, won't deny that. But only western Europe. Eastern European countries have some serious serious issues.

EU is under severe pressure and the Greece crisis can see a formal break-up of entire EU.

I believe that East Asia's economy( PRC China, Japan, Koreas, Taiwan, Hongkong,Singapore) will soon overtake that of Europe.

They already have overtaken. Countries Like Japan, South Korea, Singapore are as much developed as any European or north American country. In fact the age of Asia has already arrived.

 

[Brutas]

EU is under severe pressure and the Greece crisis can see a formal break-up of entire EU.

They already have overtaken. Countries Like Japan, South Korea, Singapore are as much developed as any European or north American country. In fact the age of Asia has already arrived.

I doubt EU will breakup any time soon. May become a little dysfunctional but won't break up.

Agree many nations in Asia are ahead of some member states in EU. However without a collective entity, they won't be able to achieve much as they would rather end up competing with each other. The nations you stated (Japan, Singapore, Korea etc...) and others, if they form an economic union of a sort they will be a formidable force not only from an economic point of view but is all aspect. But very unlikely that will occur.

I don't think Mid East considers itself Asia even if geographically it may be. North African countries identify with Mid East rather than Africa. No different than Russia which is a European state even though most it's territory lies east of Urals. Same with Turkey. It wants to join EU like other Balkan states.