“If there is something European, it is this light game between the particular and the universal” | EUROtoday

QUAtre month earlier than the beginning of the conflict of aggression of Russia towards Ukraine [en février 2022],, I used to be invited to a dinner on the Elysée Palace. We have been seven friends on the event of the long run French presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). Emmanuel Macron wished to listen to what we needed to say about Europe. Where have been we? What was our identification? He first gave the ground to the German thinker Peter Sloterdijk, the oldest of us. Sloterdijk remained silent for some time. Then he stated slowly: “Europe consists of huge international locations and small international locations. »»

Okay, I stated myself, too, I can deliver my stone to the constructing. I had considered the way in which I might contribute throughout this assembly, which additionally introduced collectively Minouche Shafik, within the director of the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the Bulgarian political scientist Ivan Krastev. Large international locations and small international locations, it doesn’t appear basic, however Peter Sloterdijk is just not a thinker for nothing. To say the proof is in fact his manner of approaching what was not that a lot.

“The big countries are old empires, while small countries are old states vassal empires”he continued. According to him, the specificity of European cooperation after the Second World War lies in the truth that giant and small nations have managed to work collectively in a spirit of confidence and mutual respect. We should overcome mistrust, worry and historic ache if we belong to the small nations. And seize the benefits of cooperation, compromise and solidarity in case you are a big nation.

“Who wants to die for the social contract?” »»

For a Danish, it’s ironic to think about themselves a small nation. We all the time overlook Greenland, and we don’t handle to reconcile our feeling of identification with our previous of historical colonial energy. This repression and our lack of curiosity partly clarify the indignation of the Greenlanders and their want for independence.

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