{"id":38848,"date":"2025-02-27T13:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T13:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=38848"},"modified":"2025-02-27T19:00:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T19:00:24","slug":"is-a-united-european-voice-possible-in-the-age-of-trump-putin-and-far-right-politics-germanys-new-leader-intends-to-find-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/is-a-united-european-voice-possible-in-the-age-of-trump-putin-and-far-right-politics-germanys-new-leader-intends-to-find-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Is a united European voice possible in the age of Trump, Putin and far-right politics? Germany\u2019s new leader intends to find out"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Julia Khrebtan-H\u00f6rhager<\/a>, Colorado State University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho do I call if I want to speak to Europe?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question was famously attributed<\/a> to former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and refers to the historical inability of the political entity of Europe to coordinate on a united front in the global arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And despite decades of integration under the European Union<\/a>, who speaks for Europe \u2013 or what the bloc desires to be \u2013 is perhaps less clear now than at any point<\/a> in recent years. Internal cleavages over immigration<\/a>, right-wing nationalism<\/a>, Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine<\/a> and Donald Trump\u2019s return to the White House<\/a> all challenge the notion of what Europe is and should stand for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friedrich Merz, the expected next chancellor of Germany, offered one continental vision shortly after his conservative party triumphed<\/a> in the country\u2019s national elections. \u201cMy absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA<\/a>,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Merz\u2019s apparent desire for a stronger German role could portend a balance shift back to Germany\u2019s preeminent place in the EU, a position it has pulled back from in recent years<\/a>. But it remains an open question as to what extent Europe can be unified given the continent\u2019s political landmines \u2013 or even what kind of Europe it would be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Filling Merkel\u2019s shoes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A German leader has, in living memory, succeeded in providing something approaching a singular European voice that the White House could deal with. Europe was long synonymous with Angela Merkel, Germany\u2019s long-lasting \u2013 and only female \u2013 chancellor, who was known by affectionate nicknames like \u201cMutti Merkel<\/a>,\u201d or \u201cMommy Merkel,\u201d and, during Trump\u2019s first time in office, was even referred to by some as the de facto leader of the free world<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her legacy \u2013 Merkel served from 2005 to 2021 \u2013 was defined in part by strong commitments to clean energy<\/a>, welcoming hundreds of thousands<\/a> of refugees during the 2015 European migrant crisis<\/a> and championing German leadership of the European Union. In the process, she became something of \u201cEurope\u2019s engine<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Merkel collaborated especially well with France\u2019s Emmanuel Macron<\/a>, a passionate fellow Europeanist, communicating a vision of a united Europe and its core values to the rest of the world. Dubbed \u201cMerkron<\/a>\u201d by commentators, the pair were seen as the EU\u2019s power couple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
President Emmanuel Macron of France and German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented a formidable European double act. Emmanuele Contini\/NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Barack Obama often described Merkel as his closest ally<\/a>, praising her humanitarian vision of refugee politics and even decorating her with the Medal of Freedom<\/a>, the highest honor that the U.S. can award to a foreign national.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Merkel was visionary, too, especially regarding the former superpowers of the Cold War and their controversial leaders. A child of East Germany, she never trusted Russia\u2019s Vladimir Putin<\/a>. She also experienced great difficulties collaborating with Trump<\/a> during his first presidency. Somewhat anticipating Merz\u2019s recent comments, Merkel in 2017 warned that neither Germany nor the EU could rely on the U.S. the way they used to, urging her fellow Europeans<\/a> to take their fate and their interests in their own hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu of \u2018the German question\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But in some ways Merkel was more popular abroad than at home<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The so-called \u201cGerman question<\/a>\u201d \u2013 or the inability of the Germans to unify as a nation in its leadership and \u201cLeitkultur<\/a>,\u201d or \u201cguiding culture\u201d \u2013 has been tormenting the country since the 19th century and gained renewed relevance during the years of German reunification<\/a> following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years on from the so-called \u201cMiracle of Merkel<\/a>,\u201d Germany\u2019s increasing internal political divisions \u2013 especially pronounced between the country\u2019s West and East<\/a> \u2013 mirror the broader divisions facing the EU at large, including over who should claim the mantle of political leadership and around what vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To regain the gravitas within Europe it had under Merkel, Germany now would need a similar kind of strong and visionary program that resonates with the continent. The country\u2019s political, economic and social challenges in 2025 demand clear national leadership, something that in my opinion neither the unemotional and uncharismatic outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz<\/a> nor the opposition right-wing leader and soon-to-be successor Merz<\/a> has demonstrated in public over the past couple of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Merkel and Merz represent the same political party, the CDU,<\/a> their visions for Germany and the EU are strikingly different. A wealthy former business lawyer, Merz\u2019s signature book, \u201cDare More Capitalism<\/a>,\u201d is a blueprint for a policy agenda that prioritizes reduction of government intervention, less bureaucracy, lower taxes and pro-market reforms. Merz also wants to strengthen German borders with restrictionist immigration politics<\/a>, a reflection of how the country has moved far to the right on the issue amid the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)<\/a>, with whom Merz has at times flirted<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet in Merz\u2019s relatively different agenda, he similarly advocates for both Europe and NATO, and wishes to refashion<\/a> Germany into the powerhouse it was in the Merkel years and make it again the envy of Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
German Chancellor Angela Merkel confers with President Donald Trump in 2018. Ian Langsdon\/AFP via Getty Images<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A changing conception of Europe?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Given the current \u201cAmerica First\u201d attitude of the Trump administration and the rise of far-right populism across the EU and the world<\/a>, it is thought-provoking \u2013 some would say alarming \u2013 that Trump declared the results of an election that saw strong gains for the far right \u2013 propelling it into second place \u2013 as a \u201cgreat day for Germany<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it is great for Europe depends on what vision of the continent one has in mind. Merz, although more right wing than Merkel, nonetheless has advocated for a strong Europe, led by Germany, that could promote a Europe independent of U.S. influence, appearing to follow in the steps of former French President Charles de Gaulle<\/a>, who sought to cleave Europe from American dominance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his recent speech at the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Vice President JD Vance warned of a European \u201cthreat from within,\u201d disparaging continental governments for their retreat from \u201cfundamental values, values shared with the United States of America<\/a>,\u201d while defending far-right populism and policies<\/a> on the continent. Elon Musk subsequently posted on his social platform X: \u201cMake Europe Great Again!<\/a> MEGA, MEGA, MEGA!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the bewilderment and dismay expressed by the European leaders at such statements, today\u2019s tormented and divided Europe can hardly claim it is a problem-free environment, nor that many of the continent\u2019s leaders don\u2019t likewise support such politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rise of populism and nationalism across Europe poses a huge problem for what could unceremoniously be described as \u201cOld Europe<\/a>,\u201d especially now, when it is seemingly drifting apart from its former ally and protector<\/a>, the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Russian influence and authoritarian politics growing in Central Europe<\/a> \u2013 especially in Hungary and Slovakia \u2013 and ultra-nationalist and far-right ideas likewise strong in Austria<\/a>, Germany<\/a>, France<\/a> and elsewhere, today\u2019s Europe is hardly a unified political, economic and cultural totality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni\u2019s right-wing political chameleonism<\/a>, combined with her defense and praise of both Musk and Trump<\/a>, is also a problem for those searching for a Europe unified more toward the political center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t keep me hanging, s’ils vous pla\u00eet!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Less than a year ago, France\u2019s Macron, the still-passionate Europeanist, marked a somber note in suggesting<\/a>: \u201cWe must be clear on the fact that our Europe, today, is mortal. \u2026 It can die, and that depends entirely on our choices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
\u2018Would Henry Kissinger bother to even pick up the phone today?\u2019 Jack Robinson\/Cond\u00e9 Nast via Getty Images<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Among other things, what Macron\u2019s warning points to<\/a> is the unresolved question of what the European bloc desires to be. So long as the answer to that question remains unclear, Kissinger\u2019s question could be rephrased to, \u201cIs there even a Europe to call?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, given the Trump administration\u2019s emerging hostility to a host of EU policies, including on the war in Ukraine, foreign aid, regulation and trade, there is a further worrying interpretation for EU leaders, even if there were \u201ca Europe to call\u201d: Would Washington bother picking up the phone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julia Khrebtan-H\u00f6rhager<\/a>, Associate Professor of Critical Cultural & International Studies, Colorado State University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Julia Khrebtan-H\u00f6rhager, Colorado State University \u201cWho do I call if I want to speak to Europe?\u201d The question was famously attributed to former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and refers to the historical inability of the political entity of Europe to coordinate on a united front in the global arena. And despite decades of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":38849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[826,5,115,46,10,25,296,36,4,38],"tags":[479,2229,349,715,9092,242,885,891,886,860,5536,16081,1602,11411,16076],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38848"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/56"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38848"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38848\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38850,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38848\/revisions\/38850"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}