Europe Turns Right
PJM Groningen: Make no mistake: newly-elected conservative European leaders did not win their elections because they are pro-American, they won despite it, says PJM correspondent Michael van der Galien.
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During the last elections in Germany and France, conservative and pro-American parties and candidates have achieved remarkable results; although many assume that anti-Americanism is on the rise in Europe, these US-friendly parties and candidates have won the elections in their countries.
In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders performed well too, and recent polls indicate that if elections were held today, his party would double its seats in Parliament. These successes of pro-Americans have inspired some American commentators to conclude that America is not unpopular in Europe after all and interpret it as a sign that the relationship between Europe and America will improve. Although said commentators are right about the latter, they are wrong about the former: these individuals did not win because they are pro-American, they won despite it.
Looking at the most recent polls in the Netherlands leads one to conclude that the newly installed cabinet does not have much support among the population: one of the coalition partners (the PvdA - Labor) currently has 33 seats in the Dutch Parliament (out of 150), but this number has dropped in the polls to 22. The one party that performs remarkably well in the polls, on the other hand, is the Party for the Freedom (PVV) led by Geert Wilders. Having Geert Wilders in a potential government coalition would certainly improve the Dutch-American relationship.
In France, Nicolas Sarkozy ran on a platform that resembles Wilders’ plans: he too is tough on immigration and integration; he is not afraid to fight terrorists and extremists militarily; he has little patience with Iran; he proposes great economic reforms and urges his fellow countrymen to work harder; and finally, he is perhaps the most pro-America Frenchman alive; and he won the elections with ease. Since Sarkozy was elected into office, France’s foreign policy has made a 180-degree turn. Not only did he meet with US President George W. Bush recently, he also warned Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program, or else.
Although the American-European relationship is likely to improve in the coming years, it would be a mistake to assume that the shift to the right is caused by the anti-Americanism of the left or by the pro-Americanism of the right. Sarkozy, Wilders and Merkel did not garner support because they were close to the US: they won as many seats as they did because of domestic issues.
Sarkozy’s main talking points were France’s immigration and integration problem and the miserable state the French economy was and is in. The same can be said for Merkel, although she is not the populist Sarkozy is. Wilders - the most outspoken and blunt of all - focuses completely on the issue of integration and on the compatibility of Islam and democracy. He is probably most famous for comparing the Koran to Hitler’s Mein Kampf and arguing that the holy book should be made illegal.
The Dutch continue to think negatively about America, George W. Bush, and Americans in general. If one has a conversation with the average Dutchman about politics, in particular Iraq and the US president, one does not have to wait long before hearing a remark like “a stupid president for a stupid people.” Although most Europeans thought highly of Bill Clinton, the image of the gun-slinging American cowboy has never disappeared from the European mind. To many, Bush confirms this image of “the typical American.” The belief that Americans care only about money, wealth and oil is alive and well, and is seldom or never refuted by media reports. For years, neither by political leaders. (Bill Clinton was not depicted as the average American, but as the exception to the rule: he was able to keep the American nature in check.)
Although the American and European cultures are similar, one gets the impression that both sides try really hard to find reasons to detest and criticize each other. In America, a prejudice exists about Europeans, and in Europe about Americans. When political leaders want to score cheap points, they appeal to these prejudices and they can count on a - in certain quarters at least - standing ovation. For years, the anti-American card has been played by most leftist European leaders. By doing so they confirmed the prejudice or even made it stronger. The argument can be made that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder used anti-American sentiment so often in his campaign he has made the problem even worse.
Since anti-Americanism is stronger than ever before in Europe, arguing that conservatives are elected into office because they are pro-American is silly.
However, the current situation provides the newly elected conservative leaders with the opportunity to undo the damage done by their predecessors. It seems unlikely that anti-Americanism will ever completely disappear from the continent, but its glory days could be soon gone. From now on Europeans will hear more positive remarks about the US, which will cause a change of sentiment in the long run. A warmer political relationship between the US and Europe will improve and this will, by itself, destroy some of the prejudices as well. Although Sarkozy, Wilders and Merkel can only win despite their pro-America stance, there is still hope that their successors will be elected because of it.
Michael van der Galiën is a Groningen, Netherlands-based American Studies student, and blogs at The Van Der Galiën Gazette.
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39 Comments
1. freetoken:If what you say is true, then Fred Thompson during his talk with Leno was wrong (when discussing Sarkozy), was he not?
Sep 9, 2007 - 1:49 am 2. Floyd:I have been living in the Netherlands for a few years now and have regularly talked about politics with a variety of people from typical Leidse to very cosmopolitan Amsterdamers and have yet to hear anything approaching your quote. There is considerable dissatisfaction with US foreign policy and with Bush and many have asked me how it was that Bush was reelected, but that is as close as they have come to the above commentary.
As a side note, how can you support a politician that refers to the holy book of one of the world’s great religions as a fascist book and advocates its being banned in the Netherlands?
Sep 9, 2007 - 3:09 am 3. David Thomson:“Although most Europeans thought highly of Bill Clinton, the image of the gun-slinging American cowboy has never disappeared from the European mind.”
The Bill Clinton administration took America on a vacation from history. He refused to deal directly with the violent challenges of his era. The wimpy European mindset, needless to add, found this most attractive. However, they are starting to realize the “cowboy” attitude of George W. Bush is the only way to combat the threat of Islamic nihilism. Soft power is not sufficient. Violence is regrettably also required.
Sep 9, 2007 - 6:02 am 4. trumpeldor:From floyd:
As a side note, how can you support a politician that refers to the holy book of one of the world’s great religions as a fascist book and advocates its being banned in the Netherlands?
Because it is a fascist book calling for islam domination at the expanse of others
Sep 9, 2007 - 6:53 am 5. Dan:Too bad for christians,jews,indus,homosexuals,women (including muslims) (unlimited list)
“In America, a prejudice exists about Europeans, and in Europe about Americans. When political leaders want to score cheap points, they appeal to these prejudices and they can count on a - in certain quarters at least - standing ovation.”
Could you provide an example of American politicians doing this? I don’t remember any - although I wouldn’t be surprised if Tom Delay, for example, had. I guess I’m wondering if anyone did this in a way as strikingly public and central to a campaign as PM Schroeder - oops I mean vice chairman of GAZPROM, YOU F-ING MANIPULATIVE PIECE OF SH-T - did.
Excuse me.
Sep 9, 2007 - 6:56 am 6. Al Fin:Even the mindlessly shrinking European population is able to understand its existential crisis. Whether moving back toward an alliance with the world’s only superpower can save Europe or not is questionable. I have serious doubts about Europe’s will to survive.
Michael, consider recent European elections as “gestures” for survival. Perhaps they wish for Europe to remain Europe, but do not yet know how strongly.
Sep 9, 2007 - 7:11 am 7. laury:“As a side note, how can you support a politician that refers to the holy book of one of the world’s great religions as a fascist book and advocates its being banned in the Netherlands?”
Indeed, Floyd, that would seem intemperate, but let me in turn ask you this - the Koran divides the world into Dar al Islam and Dar al Harb, insisting that former should engulf the latter. How would you define that as a political system?
Sep 9, 2007 - 7:13 am 8. steve:Floyd,
Banning it sounds good to me symbolism-wise. They are beating, raping and killing in the name of you-know-who…..Think one could make a case for the linkage there.
Sep 9, 2007 - 7:15 am 9. DoktorNo:New Europe is a bit different. Indeed, Poland, Czech Republic and others are more pro-american, but this altitude is changing, espectially newer generations are more and more like their counterparts in Old Europe…
Sep 9, 2007 - 7:55 am 10. Bithead:Yes, well, forgive me, but that sounds an awful lot like the nonsense we were fed from Chuckles the Clown Schumer the other day.
It’s quite clear to me, in light of this link, that what we’re dealing with here is yet another attempt to divert attention or at least divert blame, from the abject failure that leftism is.
Look, even in those situations where those European voters still holding Anti-American views, voted for rightist candidates, the fact of the matter is, that they voted against their fellow leftists, because of the failure that they represent. In each case, France, the Netherlands, wherever… leftism is being rejected, on immigration and integration problems, on the absolutely horrendous state of the economy in each case, etc..
What we are dealing with here, is a European voting public that is being forced into dealing with reality. van der Galien may very well be speaking the truth when he says that European voters to maintain an instinctive dislike of Americanism, but the fact is, in large number they have decided that it is less destructive to them and their interests, than is the leftism that they’ve been nursing for the last 50 years or so.
Sep 9, 2007 - 7:57 am 11. venividivici:“As a side note, how can you support a politician that refers to the holy book of one of the world’s great religions as a fascist book and advocates its being banned in the Netherlands?”
Islam isn’t a religion per se. It stole its religious components from Judaism and Christianity and the rest of it is just a cult. The fact that 20% of humanity subscribes to the cult does not make it “great”, either. It only shows that 20% of humanity are scum, to believe such belligerency as is inherent in Islam.
One only needs the empirical experience of reading the Koran as a non-Muslim, as opposed to subscribing to the multicultural theory that all cultures are equal, to arrive at the conclusion that the Koran is a fascist manual. I’m actually disappointed that it took Europeans so long to rediscover what prior generations already knew about Islam: that it is incompatible both with the kind of society we have grown used to in the West.
Sep 9, 2007 - 8:10 am 12. huxley:I do have the impression that Europeans try hard to detest and criticize America; however, I don’t think that’s a reciprocal relationship.
Most Americans don’t think much about Europe. To the extent that they do, blue Americans hold Europe up as a model, while red Americans are impatient with Europe’s anti-Americanism and leftist policies. But really no one in America tries hard to hold any opinion of Europe, and perhaps that is what maddens Europeans most of all.
Sep 9, 2007 - 8:58 am 13. Michael van der Galiën:floyd,
That’s probably because of something called ‘manners.’
Support Wilders? Where did I say that I support Wilders? If the question was a general one (as in you=the Dutch): dissatisfaction often takes on extreme forms.
Dan: old and new europe? french fries = freedom fries. no wine from france. Etc. These days, who was it, Thompson I believe who expressed surprise that the french ‘had it in them’ to elect sarkozy, etc.
Lastly: I’m a Dutch conservative. I’m happy with the recent developments, generally at least. The idea that Europe has had it with socialism or laborism - I wish I could agree with that statement, but I don’t think you’re 100% right in that regard either. They’re upset about certain policies of the left. Once the economy starts rolling again, however, I’m afraid we’ll soon hear the old voices calling for the same old distribution of wealth as before.
Sep 9, 2007 - 9:00 am 14. Michael van der Gali√´n:Let me add this: we’ve got some serious problems with Muslim immigrants, but Wilders is taking it too far.
Al Fin: you touch on something different (albeit related) which is a very interesting subject to think more about. Perhaps I’ll be able to write something about the european (loss of) identity for PJM, otherwise at my own blog.
Very interesting subject.
Sep 9, 2007 - 9:02 am 15. venividivici:Let me add this: we’ve got some serious problems with Muslim immigrants, but Wilders is taking it too far.
What is your version of the end-game in all this, if you think Wilders is taking it too far?
What do you envision happening in the next 20, 30, 40 years? Are we allowed to think that far ahead any more or must we confine ourselves to what is directly in front of us at any given time?
The reason I ask is because in 20,30,40 years, at current trends, Europe will be dominated by Muslims and under the sway of Islam.
People who can’t think out that far should not be commenting on politics. Period. Do something else with your time because you are not qualified to have an opinion about the public sphere. At least limit yourself to discussions of political tactics, not strategy.
It is beyond belief that we are still discussing whether or not to ban the Koran and remove Muslims from our midst when the obvious answer to both questions is yes.
Does anyone read history any more?
Sep 9, 2007 - 10:24 am 16. Tom Paine:Europeans think Americans are stupid for a very good reason.
It is that for 400 years all the smartest Europeans have been emigrating to America, where they start businesses, get rich, go to the moon, and win more Nobel Prizes than anyone else.
That leaves all the stupid Europeans in Europe, where they hold stupid opinions about America — and most other things.
Sep 9, 2007 - 11:26 am 17. chuck_1776:So, Europe still hates us for pulling their chestnuts out of the fire not once but three times in the 20th century: WWI, WWII, and the Cold War. All the more reason they can go piss up a rope the NEXT time totalitarianism rears its ugly head on the continent.
Sep 9, 2007 - 11:57 am 18. reliapundit:YOU WROTE:
anti-Americanism is stronger than ever before in Europe
THIS IS NONSENSE.
YOU WEREN’T AROUND DURING THE REAGAN YEARS. I WAS. IT WAS WORSE THEN.
YOU WROTE:
these individuals did not win because they are pro-American, they won despite it.
NONSENSE.
MERKEL AND SARKOZY DID NOT DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE USA AND THEIR FOES DID NOT CALL THEM LAPDOGS FOR BUSH.
THEY WERE BOTH MORE PRO-USA THEN THEIR FOES; AND MORE PRO-FREEMARKET.
THOUGH MANY DISAGREED, NOT THE MAJORITY; HENCE THEY WON.
YOU WROTE:
From now on Europeans will hear more positive remarks about the US, which will cause a change of sentiment in the long run.
NONSENSE.
WHAT WILL MAKE THE ANTI-AMERICAN LEFT LESS ANTI-AMERICAN IS WHEN MARKET REFORMS BRING RECOVERY AND BETTER ECONOMIES AND BETTER GOVERNMENT BALANCE SHEETS.
IOW: TO DEFEAT ANTI-AMERICANISM WE MUST DEFEAT THE LEFT.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE.
RHETORIC FROM LEADERS WON’T HAVE ANY EFFECT: LEFTISTS DO NOT LISTEN TO COWBOYS OR THEIR ADMIRERS.
Sep 9, 2007 - 12:24 pm 19. M5p04:As far as European anti-Americanism, I’ve always thought that it is not merely that America has succeeded economically and has responsible for so many scientific and technological innovations but we have done so as a society that was created as a direct repudiation of European society. People came here because they rejected European feudalism and all of it’s politcal, cultural and religious restrictions. Our democracy and capitalism was a direct, explicit rejection of their monarchies and socialism and we succeeded beautifully. Of course they resent us for that.
Sep 9, 2007 - 12:26 pm 20. Michael van der Gali√´n:M5: good points. All of them. I agree to a large degree. Note that I wasn’t giving my own opinion about America in the article (which seems to be forgotten by certain people). In fact, I also realize that anti-Americanism has a long history in Europe - it’s almost a tradition by and in itself.
The prejudices have always existed, but only every now and then are they as strong as they’re now.
As an American Studies student I find that to be quite interesting, by the way. One gets the impression that especially the French simply refuse to accept that they’re no longer a superpower.
Sep 9, 2007 - 2:04 pm 21. David:I think that European anti-Americanism is almost universal amongst the “chattering classes” types who run TV stations and newspapers and consequently is fashionable amongst those who get their views from this group. In the wider population I think that there is the sort of mixture of views that you would expect on any issue, some pro, some anti most indifferent. I think that those of us who are pro-American Europeans need to speak out more, as a lot more people agree with us than we think.
Sep 9, 2007 - 2:31 pm 22. David Thomson:“One gets the impression that especially the French simply refuse to accept that they’re no longer a superpower.”
More importantly, they have nobody to blame but themselves. The French freely chose not to be super power. They opted instead to embrace a crade to grave welfare state. America did not tell them to spend so ridiculously little on national defense.
Sep 9, 2007 - 2:38 pm 23. huxley:Personally, I give Europe my best and wish it a speedy recovery from its current doldrums. It’s obvious to me that Europe and America share more similarities than differences–not to mention the common heritage of Western civilization. We are stronger together than apart.
It does seem to me that for this to happen Europe is going to have give up the chip on its shoulder about America. I don’t think Europeans have to agree with America about everything, but its reflexive anti-Americanism goes too far and doesn’t help anyone.
Sep 9, 2007 - 2:53 pm 24. JGreene:Greetings, Michael.
Interesting post. As an American Studies major you have a responsibility to travel and live in America to “test” the opinions of Europeans (particularly the Dutch) regarding Americans.
I spent several years in the Air Force in Germany in the late 60s and my favorite place to visit was always Amsterdam. I have travelled in most of the Western European countries as a young man.
The Dutch I met were lovely people and had an affection for Americans. Perhaps they still remembered WWII. I don’t know.
What you have to understand however is that most Americans do not have a BAD opinion of Europeans. We just are not that interested in what they think about us. Americans are the most generous, fair people on this planet. We are hardly perfect.
While many Americans strive to build their own personal wealth (that is a good thing) most Americans are interested in their neighbors well-being also.
Europeans dislike of Americans is not a positive attribute but rather a mob mentality. We just don’t have the time or the inclination to generate negative emotions regarding the Dutch or French or Germans. Europeans are, well Europeans.
America broke away from Europe a long time ago. We are indeed different. We have more in common with Australia than Europe today.
Europeans will just have to adjust their expectations of America. We shall continue being Americans.
Sep 9, 2007 - 3:18 pm 25. liam moredburn:Tom Paine: That is the most EXCELLENT and astute post I have read in a long, long time. I hope that someone somewhere cuts and pastes it for all to see. Particularly dimwitted Europeans and their leftie enablers - especially here in Canada.
I also concur with some of the other posts: The Left poses a much greater short-term threat to North American society than OBL and his ilk and I, too, would tell the Europeans to piss up a tree rather than help them. They are a bunch of ingrates and that includes the Brits.
Sep 9, 2007 - 3:51 pm 26. Mark:This is a very interesting discussion, but there seems to be something missing. How about the following: The European elites, are generally socialisitic for the purpose of maintaining the status quo. Conseqently they supported the Soviets and they are now beholden to the Arabs as the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
These aristoctats have found nice employment in the EU bureaucracy and via their money managers (Soros) along with their syncophants in the intelligentsia are able to promote hatred of the USA. They fear that the freedom, economic and social mobility available in the USA will become a standard by which their societies will be seen by their serfs as inferior.
It is obvious that a society,the USA, founded on the principal that citizen rights are derived from a creator beyond the power of a bureaucrat or an intellectual snob would threaten the inherited position of the ruling elite. In order to prevent this notion of citizen rights from spreading to their servile populaitons, the elites indoctrinate their masses with hatred of the one idea which would truly over-turn the grip they have on their serfs/subjects.
The internet will change everything.
Sep 9, 2007 - 5:31 pm 27. BMoon:Nations and civilizations as do individuals, seem to move in cycles -sleep, awakening, activity, weariness, sleep. Europe has seemed especially fatigued over the last few centuries, several times critically oversleeping it’s urgently sounding alarm clock, until it responds almost too late. Whether it is rolling drousily out of bed from its moribund stupor this time in time enough to stop the double threat of Islamism without and nihilistic leftism from within, only the next decade will tell. But it seems to me, that, if it manages to hold off the horde this time, Europe needs not only to look at how statism,totalitarianism, and fascism is once again hovering at its gates, but why. Somehow, like an old man who went wrong a long time ago, it must find its true heart once again, and where I would begin looking would be in its Christian legacy.
And I wish Europe the very best in this endeavor. My hearts and prayers are with you in th greatest battle it has ever fought - the battle for its soul.
Sep 9, 2007 - 6:47 pm 28. huxley:Amen, BMoon!
I have to believe that when Europe awakens to see that its historic heritage, even survival, is threatened it will respond and vigorously. In the process it will discover that it has far more pressing concerns than its previous anti-Americanism, much as Michael van der Galiën suggests.
Sep 9, 2007 - 10:12 pm 29. breezaway:This whole misunderstanding, between continents, countries, is not new. Antonello Gerbi, way back in the ’50s (writing in Italian in S. America) and since then translated into English and Espanol and lord knows what other languages. An intellectual history of the meaning of the ‘New World’, titled “The Dispute of the New World”, subtitled “the history of a polemic, 1750-1900″.
Which is to say that this whole arguement has been going on for 4 or 500 years. Nothing is new here, it’s all a repeat.
So read Gerbi, and become wiser.
Sep 10, 2007 - 12:12 am 30. David Becker:I wish I had a dollar for each time I heard this ridiculous argument “X gets elected not because of Omething, but in spite of it.” Polls don’t count. People lie in them and vent base and angry frustrations. Elections do count and are the only meaningful source of information by which public likes and dislikes can be judged.
Sep 10, 2007 - 3:43 am 31. william jonas:Some great arguments here. However (Mr van der Galien) “Europe has had it ( become tired) with Socialism”? Is sort of akin to a cancer victim declaring I have had it with cancer.
Sep 10, 2007 - 6:47 am 32. Ken in SC:Europe is all talk and no action. They are doomed.
To those Europeans who ask why Bush was re-elected, one should say that the Democrats did not offer a reasonable alternative. In America’s two party system, we have the stupid party and the crazy party. It’s usually best to vote for the stupid party because they seem to cause less harm.
Sep 10, 2007 - 7:40 am 33. Ewt:There is certainly a anti US sentiment in Europe. But as a pro US Dutch citizen I think a large part of it has to do with the fact that “Large trees catch a lot of wind”. If you look at the news you will always see something about America, half of Europe’s (and the world’s) media are of American origin.
The media brings a very fragmented unclear world in our home, and loves to show US involvement in it. On the other hand you hardly ever see something about Chechnya or the horrors that are caused by the . This cannot deliver anything other than a distorted view of the world.
The European people are also very anti war, most of them simply do not believe anything good can come out of a war, altough we are the biggest example that a war is sometimes needed for freedom.
But as somebody who triggers a lot of discussions about this, with friends, family and college’s, I cannot say that more than a few dumbasses believe that what we see on the news is reality or have a grudge against the American people. I also don’t believe, in the Netherlands at least, that the Anti Americanism originates from the fact that Europe used to be dominating on the world stage. Dutch civilians don’t care about that.
Also there are a lot of people that don’t like the current policy of the US but strongly believe in the American Dream and the American people. Even tho the majority is socialist, and points to the government for everything, there are some people that want less government and more change and self responsibility.
Sep 10, 2007 - 1:03 pm 34. snavetrebor:Is there such a thing as a “Dutch Studies” student here in the U.S.? I’m guessing no, and that pretty much tells you all you need to know about how much Americans think about Europe in an average day. I got kids to feed, to quote Dave Chapelle.
Sep 10, 2007 - 3:27 pm 35. Keryl K:Actually, most Americans do not waste their time disliking Europe. If anything, we wish those nations well. Just in an offhand and indifferent sort of way.
Anti-American sentiment may have a political value in Europe. (I will take your word on that point.) In the USA, a politican who focused a speach on ‘Europe’ - pro or con - would mostly be greeted with ‘heh? what’s that about?’???
Sep 10, 2007 - 6:41 pm 36. wvally:I am a science teacher in America, and I envision a future where our young people join together in a science and technology focused online educational environment, with instant translation of content to multiple languages and myspace style interaction between kids from around the world. Kids and classes would be grouped together not based on physical locations, but by interests. I think that the only real way for the “old” and “new” worlds to truly reconnect is through person-to-person interaction, not through media and governmental intermediaries.
Sep 10, 2007 - 8:01 pm 37. Michael van der Galiën:WVally: that sounds like a tremendous future. In fact, something worth setting up.
Sep 11, 2007 - 3:34 am 38. Assistant Village Idiot:That does seem to be the long way home, then. Europeans are now more favorable to the same ideas as the American center-right but not to Americans themselves. Sigh. That will have to do for now, I suppose. Narratives die hard.
Sep 11, 2007 - 6:28 am 39. william jonas:WVally and van der Galien, you both have the certainty and inclination of socialist utopians. And as I like to point out, the first impulse of every utopian is make the people obey the government.
Sep 11, 2007 - 1:48 pmForces unknown to you and I perhaps not yet realized in our time will determine the shape and destiny of future societies and populations.