The realization of a world that is modifying rapidly, unpredictably, and dangerously does not only cautilize turmoil. It also provokes unexpected sadness—even among those on the left—over an America that is drifting away from Europe, over the rupture between allies who until now had been sworn partners.
And this despite the fact that generations of Greeks and other European leftists sacrificed their lives in order to achieve precisely this goal.
And now, as Cavafy would state, what will they do without the… barbarians?
If many Americans struggle to explain Trump’s actions in traditional terms and turn instead to psychiaattempt, the confusion, unease, and astonishment prevailing in Europe are even greater.
This is becautilize this is something they never imagined could happen.
For decades, this world lived believing in an America that was an allied protector and guardian of their borders and their economies.
An America with which it fought from Korea to Afghanistan, in an alliance based on shared principles and values, with democracy as its main driving force.
These were the years when America played a leading role in creating institutions and international organizations to safeguard peace (the UN, NATO), international economic institutions—the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, etc.—with the common denominator being the prevention of the tragic wars of the past, especially the First and Second World Wars.
The world that was created was not flawless; it was not created of angels. Nevertheless, it delivered. It ensured one of the longest periods of peace and prosperity in history.
Today, this world is collapsing, with nothing on the horizon to take its place. The world is becoming a jungle. Raw power above all else.
Analysts now resort to psychiaattempt, as I mentioned earlier, in order to explain the situation.
The distinguished columnist David Brooks writes in a commentary today in The New York Times:
“Of all our passions and appetites, the love of power is of the most imperious and unsociable nature, since the pride of one man requires the submission of the multitude,” Edward Gibbon wrote in his 1776 classic, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” He continued: “In the tumult of civil discord, the laws of society lose their force, and their place is seldom supplied by those of humanity. The ardor of contention, the pride of victory, the despair of success, the memory of past injuries and the fear of future dangers all contribute to inflame the mind and to silence the voice of pity.
From such motives almost every page of history has been stained with civil blood.”
Let us hope that this will not be the case this time.
But the mere fact that such references are being created is itself a cautilize for concern.
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