Nova Europa: Europe's Second Renaissance (1)

 

Not so long ago, only one hundred years or less, Europe was the centre of the whole world. It was only in 1914, with the outbreak of the Great War, that it would begin to follow a path that could only lead to its ultimate demise and to the inevitable loss of its position of dominance and prestige.

A century later, Europe is, apparently, past its prime. It is weak, tired and divided, unable to regain its past influence and glory. Our Europe, today, is but a shadow of its former glorious self, a continent that conquered  and ruled an entire world and ushered it into an age of lights in the realms of science and ideas.

In the beginning of the XXI century, the centre of the world is the United States of America. Europe does not even come second, lagging behind the great powers of the East in more ways than one. All that Europe has is its legacy, as well as a hopeful future that it must strive to achieve.

This much, however, cannot be done if Europe is to remain petty, scared, tired, old and, above all things, divided in its institutions and intents. The world of the XXI century will be inevitably ruled by its giants. The United States is joined in this club by powers such as Russia, China, India or Brazil, countries that, alone, are equal in size and population to the whole of the European continent, home to more than 40 nations at present.

It must therefore become obvious to all, especially to Europeans themselves, that the European nations cannot regain a position of dominance standing separately from each other as they have done in the past. The path of an Europe divided leads to a future of irrelevance in the world stage, or worse. The only way to insure the very survival of these small nations is by a great alliance of the European peoples. Alone, each of these countries, even the most powerful ones such as England, France and Germany, will forever be at the mercy of the will of the great giants of the modern world. Yet, together, Europeans would not only match the power of these giant nations, they would be more powerful than any of them.

This much, should certainly appear obvious to Europeans, old and young, rich and poor, from the west and the east and from north and south. Yet, against all odds, this is not the case. As I write, European politicians and peoples proceed with their everlasting petty bickering, instead of doing what is logical and much needed for their own good and for the welfare of their sons and the sons of their sons.

This is why I write these words. Because it is of great importance for Europe and its young sons and daughters to realize that a different future, a better future, is within reach. We need only to believe in it and grab it.

What Europe needs is a desire for the right kind of change as well as the energy and the will to pursue it. This is not out of reach, on the contrary. A new generation of Europeans, with a clear goal in mind and the desire to pursue it, is really all it takes. What Europe needs is a second renaissance and Europeans can give it to her if they find the courage to believe in it. This is why I write these words. Words inspire ideals. Ideals lead to actions. Actions lead to change, and that is how dreams come true.

A vision of a new Europe, of a better Europe, starts with the union of its nations. Without this union, nothing can be achieved. It is the union of its parts what will give Europe the strength it so desperately needs.

A united Europe would have around 500 million souls, more than three times Russia's population, almost twice as many people as the United States and almost half of China's or India's. It would control a territory comparable in size to that of the United States, especially if we exclude Alaska. It would also have the biggest economy in the world, slightly bigger than the American economy, one and a half times the Chinese economy and about eight times bigger than the economies of Russia, India or Brazil.    

Size, population and economic power are the ingredients Europe needs to compete on the world stage and win. In order to regain its pride and glory, there cannot be a better solution for Europe than union. These are the raw materials Europe needs to become great again, to be able to insure its own safety in the future and to enter a new era of prosperity in its history. A period of growth, innovation and self-improvement that could become the model for all the other peoples of the world to follow. Europe deserves nothing less from its new generations.