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International-UN-NGOs
EU is ascending power while US power in decline: UK analyst
2005-11-07
Note: The Washington Diplomat is a monthly free publication that covers DC's diplomatic community. It always features a grave-faced Ambassador in a tastefully expensive suit on the the cover, numerous photos of diplomats and their bejewelled wives at fancy parties, and lots of ads for very expensive baubles. I read it on the subway. I'll post articles of interest from time to time.
From the Dept. of Wishful Thinking:
After spending five months last year in Washington on a prestigious trans-Atlantic fellowship sponsored by the German Marshall Fund, Mark Leonard developed a historical metaphor to understand and explain American power. Leonard does not compare the United States in the early years of the 21st century with imperial Rome or with the far-flung British empire of the 19th century, but rather with a 1956 Chevy automobile.
A '56 Chevy? That can't be! Hitler never drove a '56 Chevy...
Leonard, a policy analyst at the London-based Centre for European Reform, said that like this vintage car, the United States is formidable but fading.
Okay, he's got my attention. Let's hear it. Why is America formidable but fading?
“American power, sort of like a ’56 Chevy, seems to have passed its prime,” he told The Washington Diplomat. “The components that allowed America to dominate the 20th century are still in place—a strong economy, a powerful popular culture, a big army—but the clumsy way that power has been exercised under President Bush has left it looking isolated, tired, even weak.”
I admit, it was hard to get out of bed this morning. But only 'cos the Redskins beat the Eagles yesterday.
Leonard returned to London from his Washington visit convinced that the European Union’s decentralized organizational structure and shrewd understanding of how to exert its influence in the world make it an important model for other regions to consider.
Ah, but he also returned to London convinced that he needed to promote his new book.
Leonard is a rising star in trans-Atlantic foreign policy circles. Until earlier this year, he was director of the Foreign Policy Centre, a think tank he helped start at the age of 24 with the support of British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He is now director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform where he analyzes Europe’s relationships with the United States, the Middle East and China. The center is a think tank that is funded by private sector donations. Its operating premise is that European integration is historically important and largely beneficial, but that substantial reforms are needed for the EU to reach its potential.

Leonard believes that the end of the Cold War and the rise of globalization have unleashed three major shifts in global power, all of which can be beneficial to the EU.

* The first power shift comes from countries in the West to those in the East and South, such as China, India and Brazil. These rising nations are searching for models and allies other than the United States.

*The second shift is from a global order organized around states to one that tries to protect individuals from global threats such as genocide and terrorism. “Today’s threats are neither caused by, nor aimed at, states. Today we fear invading armies less than terrorism, global warming or the spread of diseases like AIDS,” Leonard said.

*The third shift is from a global system premised on national power to one defined by regional integration. In Leonard’s view, the European Union is the godfather of regional organizations and its approach to governance is influencing other regional initiatives in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and South Asia. Leonard said the EU should be viewed as a network rather than a state—a network that is being strengthened and expanded by constant negotiation among the member countries. “The EU is a skeletal organization that leaves real power to the states, which are responsible for overseeing and implementing most of the EU’s activities,” he explained. “By building a network of power that binds states together with a market, common institutions and international law rather than a hierarchical nation-state, it is increasingly writing the rules for the 21st century.” Leonard said that Europeans defend international legal norms because the EU is based on an international treaty. “The law is Europe’s weapon of choice in its campaign to reshape the world. Europeans believe the best way to win the war on terror, control the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, or wipe out organized crime and drugs is to spread the international rule of law,” he said.
Posted by:Seafarious

#30  Mark Leonard—didn't he play Ambassador Sarek?

That's Mark Lenard.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-11-07 23:16  

#29  The French riots are NOT yet out of CHirac's control - it is, however, a heads up for the Frenchies and all Euro-Socialism that they must accept Socialism's realistic "separate but [un]equal" outcome means they either adopt US-STYLE FEDERALISM and REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY; OR IN LT BE PREPARED TO BECOME THE EURABIAN CALIPHATE of God-based Totalitarianism-Regulatory Centralism, where [EURO]JUDEOCHRISTIANITY > DE-REGULATED ISLAMISM, aka LIMITED ANTI/UN-ISLAMISM!? The only issue then for the Euros will be whether the future Eurabian Caliphate will be par, or dominated, by Russia-China in the East, or Clintonian Communist=Fascist Amerika, the USSA/USR, in the West???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2005-11-07 21:26  

#28  
EU is ascending power while US power in decline
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Thanks. It's been a looooonnng, hard day - I needed a good laugh. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2005-11-07 20:25  

#27  Just another professional brain fart who doesn't actually do anything

I want one of those jobs. Just sit around and come up with a premise about how the US is in the tanks, with no supporting facts. Get lots of press and praise from the RFSP and cash in.
Posted by: 2b   2005-11-07 20:18  

#26  Mark Leonard—didn't he play Ambassador Sarek?
Posted by: Eric Jablow   2005-11-07 19:23  

#25  Definitely need those front fenders when she breaks into a trot.
Posted by: KBK   2005-11-07 19:07  

#24  
The EU
Posted by: DMFD   2005-11-07 18:58  

#23  I'd rather grab her ass, thanks.
Posted by: Regnad Kcin   2005-11-07 18:12  

#22  Everyone grab there asses and run for the hills.
Posted by: Captain America   2005-11-07 18:10  

#21  Oh, my Gawd, we're doomed, doomed, I tell ya.
Posted by: Captain America   2005-11-07 18:09  

#20  Oh my Gawd, we're doomed, doomed I tell ya.
Posted by: Floluper Photch7958   2005-11-07 18:08  

#19  "Leonard described the U.S.’s reach as shallow and narrow while the EU’s is broad and deep. “The lonely superpower can bribe, bully or impose its will almost anywhere in the world, but when its back is turned, its potency wanes,” he writes.

Hmmm - where exactly is the EU's reach so broad and deep? Sudan, Iran, Venezuela, Nork, Paris? Someone help me out here...

Meanwhile, the "shallow and narrow" reach of the US in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan is so ineffective.
Posted by: Pheating Glasing1720   2005-11-07 18:06  

#18  They pay him to tell them what they want to hear. Both parties come away happy. Just another professional brain fart who doesn't actually do anything.
Posted by: Regnad Kcin   2005-11-07 18:00  

#17  Chortle from Bankrupt Blairistan!

This board does have a few laughs occasionally.

Bet this goes down a riot in Fwance.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2005-11-07 18:00  

#16  Think the George Marshall Fund should ask for its grant money back.
Posted by: RWV   2005-11-07 17:59  

#15  Gee whiz, guys - maybe we can get the cylinders bored out, get a dual carb system in there. Maybe a Hurst linkage on the tranny...
Posted by: mojo   2005-11-07 17:23  

#14  Weren't there similar analyses / claims like this when the Euro was gaining strength against the dollar? Funny how that's not mentioned anymore, isn't it?
Posted by: Raj   2005-11-07 15:45  

#13  I'd turn his analysis on its head and starting with the same data/facts reach exactly the opposite conclusion.

In summary, as many states surrender their power to largely impotent transnational institutions, those that refuse to do so become more influential in world affairs.

Wishful thinking indeed!
Posted by: phil_b   2005-11-07 15:27  

#12  The economies of this century will be based around Pacific Ocean trade. Europe (and Africa) will be the one out in the cold.
Posted by: rjschwarz (no T!)   2005-11-07 14:59  

#11  That way the European way of doing things will have become the world’s.

Right. The chart accompanying the article shows that by 2015, the average lunch will take 23.5 hours, during which 12.7 bottles of wine will be consumed.
Posted by: Matt   2005-11-07 14:55  

#10  Today we fear invading armies less than terrorism, global warming or the spread of diseases like AIDS,” Leonard said.

He said global warming is a threat worse than invading armies, BS meter pegged, changing channel, this dude is an idiot.
Posted by: BrerRabbit   2005-11-07 14:39  

#9  The parts that make me nervous and itchy are the bits about the end of the nation-state. Our ability to even define our borders (let alone defend them) is being chip-chip-chipped away by the Tranzis. I have no wish to become a 'global citizen'. I like being an American just fine, thankyewverymuch.
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-11-07 14:20  

#8  This guy is SO full of sh!t that I'm not even sure where to begin. Does he have a real job?
Posted by: Secret Master   2005-11-07 14:08  

#7  I too found it hard to get out of bed, but that is becuase the Raiders LET the Chiefs win. I lose sleep on EU only when I think how JFKerry would make us adhere to their many rants and rules.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2005-11-07 14:06  

#6  Oh I think we could still offer them some tips on stuff like...oh, I don't know, riot control maybe?
Posted by: tu3031   2005-11-07 13:36  

#5  ...first time in 50 years, it’s the U.S. that needs Europe’s help more than the other way around.

Right...
Despite being hammered with Hurricanes, our economy grew 3.8% and unemployment is near 5%, wages are up and we don't have massive riots.
The EU however, 0.1% GDP growth, 15-20% or higher unemployment, massive brain drain of people fleeing to US, UK and Austraila and massive riots from an barbaric immogrant hoard.

Enjoy your new Islamic overlords. You are religated to the dustbin of history. The US will still be around in 50 years. Will you?
Posted by: mmurray821   2005-11-07 13:34  

#4  I liken the rise of the EU like an ummmmm.... a

1956 VLAM

Posted by: Shipman   2005-11-07 13:32  

#3  Sometimes it is absolutely astounding how seriously self delusional people can be taken.
Posted by: Uleregum Spulet7174   2005-11-07 13:27  

#2  Like many other analysts, Leonard is fascinated by the rise of China. He said that as China emerges, it is adopting policies that are consistent with those of the EU
I'm not sure that's encouraging.
Posted by: James   2005-11-07 13:18  

#1  Leonard returned to London from his Washington visit convinced that the European Union’s decentralized organizational structure and shrewd understanding of how to exert its influence in the world make it an important model for other regions to consider.

Yeah, that soft power - sure does get results, doesn't it?

..it’s the U.S. that needs Europe’s help more than the other way around.

Haaahhahahaaaa, sounds like Mr. Leonard is into the heavy stuff. Maybe the TSA flunkies should have checked his bag a little more thoroughly for drug paraphernalia when he left for home.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-11-07 12:52  

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