Political nostalgia hinders realistic solutions for Europe and democracy

Political nostalgia, while sometimes a virtue in private life, becomes a dangerous trap in the public sphere. It leads to an idealized view of the past and an evasion of current realities. This is particularly perilous when it suggests that contemporary challenges can be solved by reverting to outdated institutions and systems, even as economic, technological, and geopolitical landscapes have fundamentally shifted.

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Political nostalgia is particularly dangerous because it suggests that contemporary challenges can be solved by returning to old institutions and arrangements.

The article points to Europe's unwavering faith in the transatlantic alliance as a prime, almost comical, example of this nostalgic thinking. Despite escalating insults and provocations from Donald Trump, European leaders respond with smiles and gestures of friendship. However, this facade masks a lack of a concrete plan to replace the American security umbrella with a European defense system. The concept of a European army and a unified defense industry remains largely theoretical, hampered by the persistent sovereignty concerns of member states. Even in agreements like SAFE, the focus remains on directing the vast majority of EU funds to national industries.

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The belief in an unwavering Atlantic alliance is perhaps the best – at times even comical – example of this attitude.

This same nostalgic mindset permeates thinking about democracy. The belief persists that in an era of global financial markets and digital platforms, democracy can only function effectively within the confines of the nation-state. This is a relic of a bygone world. No single European nation can independently tackle climate change, migration, or nuclear threats. National parliaments struggle to exert control over global tech corporations or capital flows. Yet, the fiction is maintained that national legislatures like the Sejm or Bundestag are fully sovereign, and that election winners can unilaterally fulfill their promises.

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The concept of a European army and a common arms industry remains the subject of academic debates without backing in political reality.

The author argues it is time to abandon this political nostalgia and embrace a pragmatic, realistic view of the world. European defense and transnational democracy are not idealistic dreams but necessary, realistic responses to a world where national sovereignty is increasingly constrained by forces and problems that transcend borders. This shift in perspective is crucial for navigating the complexities of the 21st century.

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We maintain the fiction that democracy can effectively function only within the borders of the nation-state.