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The problem with a country like Germany is that it's too big for Europe (as a continent), but too "small" for the world. Similar thing for France. Of course tha

The problem with a country like Germany is that it's too big for Europe (as a continent), but too "small" for the world. Similar thing for France. Of course that the European Union was meant as a solution for this problem (and for the accompanying wars caused by it). I'd say that while the EU has been a great project from an economic pov from a political and geo-strategic pov this war in Ukraine is showing its huge weaknesses. Imo only the US, China and partially Russia (and maybe India) can be really autarchic, all of these countries that span almost an entire continent (or a big part of it). Not sure if there's a solution to all of this, from Europe's point of view. Ideally by this point we should have had a genuine political and societal union (I'm from Romania myself, another EU member), but that has failed, it is failing (of course that the powers that be refuse to acknowledge that). Without that genuine political and societal union one cannot have an autarchic Europe.

blaser-waffle 5y ago
India is far too fractured and chaotic to really bat at the same level as the US or China. They will (probably)get there, but they're not at the big leagues just yet. Russia was thought to maybe be at that level, but the war is showing how hollow their military is, and maybe how wobbly their economy is.
actionfromafar 5y ago
Upvoting but Russia most definitely cannot be self-sufficient. Unless you mean in a theoretical or future sense. Most of it exports are energy, and their industry depends heavily on western and chinese machinery and components.
- holoduke 5y ago
  Enough smart people to create a small world within.
  - imtringued 5y ago
    No, it's more logical to send all the smart people to Germany, let them work there and then sell your resources to Germany. You can then buy high quality products from Germany and thereby be completely independent from a properly functioning domestic economy.
LeanderK 5y ago
The current form of the EU is a stop-gap as long as not more power is transferred to the EU level. The EU is plagued by constant infighting and incoherent policies of the member states. But I think it's going better than some realise and a lot of the current projects of the EU are really firsts (a real industrial strategy with a focus on more autonomy in areas like chips and batteries). People except a lot from the EU and don't realise that in reality the legal bounds haven't really progressed since the 90s. This conflict can again strengthen the european institutions and maybe result in some more reforms for the EU (and hopefully some democratic advances, although unlikely considering orban etc.).
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blaser-waffle 5y ago

India is far too fractured and chaotic to really bat at the same level as the US or China. They will (probably)get there, but they're not at the big leagues just yet. Russia was thought to maybe be at that level, but the war is showing how hollow their military is, and maybe how wobbly their economy is.

actionfromafar 5y ago

Upvoting but Russia most definitely cannot be self-sufficient. Unless you mean in a theoretical or future sense. Most of it exports are energy, and their industry depends heavily on western and chinese machinery and components.

holoduke 5y ago
Enough smart people to create a small world within.
- imtringued 5y ago
  No, it's more logical to send all the smart people to Germany, let them work there and then sell your resources to Germany. You can then buy high quality products from Germany and thereby be completely independent from a properly functioning domestic economy.

LeanderK 5y ago

The current form of the EU is a stop-gap as long as not more power is transferred to the EU level. The EU is plagued by constant infighting and incoherent policies of the member states. But I think it's going better than some realise and a lot of the current projects of the EU are really firsts (a real industrial strategy with a focus on more autonomy in areas like chips and batteries). People except a lot from the EU and don't realise that in reality the legal bounds haven't really progressed since the 90s. This conflict can again strengthen the european institutions and maybe result in some more reforms for the EU (and hopefully some democratic advances, although unlikely considering orban etc.).

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