Europe and the End of the Age of Innocence

Europe and the End of the Age of Innocence

Francesco M. Bongiovanni Europe and the End of the Age of Innocence

Francesco M. Bongiovanni ISBN 978-3-319-74369-1 ISBN 978-3-319-74370-7 (ebook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74370-7 Library of Congress Control Number: 2018934899 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cover illustration: estherpoon/istock/getty; Andrew Latshaw/EyeEm/Getty Printed on acid-free paper This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland

Endorsements For Europe And The End Of The Age Of Innocence The European Union s mood has improved as its economies pick up, the euro crisis fades, migration and terrorism fears pass and even Brexit no longer provokes concern. In his new book, Francesco Bongiovanni warns against complacency. The gap between Europe s elites and its citizens is glaring; north-south and east-west tensions persist; the euro and migration crises could easily return. All this makes plans to build a united states of Europe wholly unrealistic. His gloomy message should be heeded, especially in Brussels, Berlin and Paris. John Peet, Political Editor, The Economist Severe but necessary. An extreme lucidity that should bring Europe, through its ever-closer union, to political initiatives able to safeguard its traditional values and new common interests in the midst of an inescapable universal revolution. Georges Berthoin, Former chief of staff of Jean Monnet a founding father of Europe former High Representative of the European Economic Community with the United Kingdom Europe as presently constructed is no longer fit for purpose. With his trademark style, Bongiovanni takes an unflinching look at what led the continent to this moment. Do not read this book if you re optimistic about Europe s future but read this book if you care about that future. Ian Bremmer, President and founder of Eurasia Group, a leading global political risk research and consulting firm Francesco Bongiovanni s The End of the Age of Innocence presents an unsettling but coherent view of Europe s future. It is a view which is not usually heard in polite European circles but one which is often heard privately. Bongiovanni worries about what he sees as a fight for the soul of Europe. George Yeo, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Singapore Bongiovanni is right: the West in general doesn t seem to know anymore what it stands for or where it wants to go. Europe is particularly lost and adrift. This book provides a valuable and timely wake-up call. Europeans ignore it at their own peril. Kishore Mahbubani, Dean, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy NUS

A brilliant reconstruction of an inevitable disaster or a doomsday interpretation of the Union s future? The analysis goes to the roots of the socio-economic European malaise that threatens our common dream, the salvation of which desperately requires acts of political bravery. Leonardo Maisano, European affairs commentator Endorsements For The Decline And Fall Of Europe: It has become impossible to pretend otherwise: Europe is in steep decline. The Continental dream of economic prosperity, social security and international good citizenship has given way to a nightmare of chronic unemployment, unsustainable debt, demographic decline, political paralysis and street violence. In The Decline and Fall of Europe, Francesco Bongiovanni offers the most perceptive account to date of a Europe that indulged too many illusions and is now awakening to bankruptcy. Bret Stephens, Foreign Affairs Columnist, Wall Street Journal Provocative and alarming, a wake-up call for the twenty-first century. Nils Pratley, The Guardian An important read for anyone interested in the future of Europe. John Paulson, President, Paulson & Co. Inc A very lively and witty survey of Europe s ills. Dominique Moisi, author of The Geopolitics of Emotions A thoughtful and provocative cautionary tale that Americans should read if they want to see how our own increasing regulatory structure, accelerating entitlements, and ballooning national debt could lead to the same decline that the author so clearly describes in Europe. Francesco Bongiovanni mixes common sense with an experienced eye for the details that show how utopianism overwhelmed the benign postwar vision of a united Europe and resulted in a nightmare. His description of the EU bureaucracy as an organization of 40,000 souls, a budget of 126 billion Euros, and the ambition to control every part of European life is lamentable proof of Kafka s vision. John Lehman, Former Secretary of the Navy in the Reagan Administration and a member of the 9/11 Commission

In view of the current crisis in the European Union in general and the Euro zone in particular, the arrival of this book could not be more timely. It is a comprehensive review of the way the initial favourable development of the EU has gone wrong and the range of problems it currently faces. Should be read by every MP in the Union s 27 countries! Stephen Valdez, author of An Introduction to Global Financial Markets Revealing. A valuable tool for those who are interested in understanding the roots of the current Eurocrisis and for decision-makers engaged in limiting its bitter consequences. Lucio Caracciolo, Limes, Italian Review of Geopolitics, Editor-in-chief

This book is dedicated to all of you, people of goodwill and reason, who seem to be fewer and fewer. You have the right to know and the duty to try to understand. ix

About the Author Francesco M. Bongiovanni has lived in Europe, Asia, the USA and in the Arab world. He holds an MBA from Harvard and a doctorate in engineering. A former investment banker, he subsequently worked as an entrepreneur and as an advisor in strategy and finance. He has been made a Knight of the Order of St Charles for his contribution to humanitarian and biodiversity protection endeavours. He is an author and a composer of classical symphonic music and jazz. xi

Contents 1 Introduction 1 Part I The Trilogy 11 2 The Awakening 13 3 The Tsunami 31 4 Barbarians in the City 83 5 The Rise of Alternative Politics 141 6 Ensuring the Survival of a Europe of Values 191 Part II A Brief History of How to Mess Things Up 205 7 The Island That Couldn t Get Far Enough 207 8 Uber Alles? Not So Fast! 225 xiii

xiv Contents 9 The More It Changes, the More It Stays the Same 243 10 The Gas Wars 269 11 The Trump Card 283 12 Conclusion 293 Sources and Acknowledgements 299 Bibliography 301 Index 303