Charlemagne | Europe makes peace with nationalism | Economist.com
Charlemagne | Europe makes peace with nationalism | Economist.com
"Europe makes peace with nationalism
Mar 27th 2008
Even in a border-free Europe, everyone wants a homeland
Illustration by Claudio Munoz
NOT just Belgium, but (supposedly) the entire European Union sighed with relief this week when a new Belgian government got to work—ending nine months of squabbling among the political parties. To Euro-enthusiasts in Brussels, their host country's failure to form a government after last June's election was alarming. The argument is that Belgium matters because it is a model for Europe, with a complex federal system (the country boasts six governments and parliaments) designed to share power between three regions and three linguistic communities (Dutch-, French- and German-speakers). And if small, wealthy Belgium cannot make federalism work, how can the EU?"
"Europe makes peace with nationalism
Mar 27th 2008
Even in a border-free Europe, everyone wants a homeland
Illustration by Claudio Munoz
NOT just Belgium, but (supposedly) the entire European Union sighed with relief this week when a new Belgian government got to work—ending nine months of squabbling among the political parties. To Euro-enthusiasts in Brussels, their host country's failure to form a government after last June's election was alarming. The argument is that Belgium matters because it is a model for Europe, with a complex federal system (the country boasts six governments and parliaments) designed to share power between three regions and three linguistic communities (Dutch-, French- and German-speakers). And if small, wealthy Belgium cannot make federalism work, how can the EU?"
Labels: EU, Nationalis
