The Trumpification of Europe: A Loss of Self-Respect and Democratic Soul

Strategic Insights -

European leaders have taken a sharp turn towards accommodation with Donald Trump, accepting his demands without standing up for their own principles or interests. Instead of confrontation, they have opted for flattering rhetoric, praising Trump's diplomatic prowess and accepting his "deals" without scrutiny. This pragmatic stance has been touted as a necessary evil, but it has failed to deliver on its own promises and has set a perilous precedent for democratic politics across the continent.

Key Takeaways:

  • European leaders have chosen to flatter Trump, accepting his demands and rhetoric without standing up for their own principles or interests.
  • This stance is based on the claim that it's better to "talk is cheap" and accept Trump's terms, despite critics arguing that this approach is unprincipled and lacks pragmatism.
  • The current approach has sacrificed Europe's ability to call out Trump's violations of international treaties, such as the World Trade Organization's most-favoured nation principle.
  • The normalization of Trump's behavior, including tantrums, bullying, and craving for ritual subjugation, is being internalized by European leaders, leading to a crisis of democratic accountability.
  • The EU has lost the political capital it could have mobilized to lead a coalition of countries in defense of rules-based trade and opposition to Trump.
  • European leaders are now in a situation where they cannot publicly say what they are actually trying to do, creating an environment of distrust and poisoning democracy.

Statistics:

  • 5%: The percentage of national income that Nato countries have agreed to spend on defense, as demanded by Trump.
  • 2: The number of European leaders, Mark Rutte and Ursula von der Leyen, who have been accused of ingratiation with Trump.
  • 1: The number of occasion when a leader, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, stood up to Trump in the Oval Office, unlike their European counterparts.

Sources:

  • Martin Sandbu, "The Trumpification of Europe" (The Financial Times, [no date available])
  • Richard Baldwin, "The Grievance Doctrine" (Brookings Institution, [no date available])
  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy, "Ukraine's President Fights Back Against Trump's Bluster" (The New York Times, February 2020)