1 March 2025
‘Under great America, Europe was not great. Now it will have to be.’
by Boris Akunin
Source: Telegram
Amexit
We have become accustomed to living in a world dominated, or attempting to be dominated, by America. This situation arose more than a century ago, when the idealist Woodrow Wilson first spoke about the interests of not only his own country, but of the whole world, and it solidified after 1945, when the USA led the global alliance of democratic nations and its collective security. Decade after decade, America invested enormous effort and monumental amounts of money into its reputation capital, and ensuring its world leadership. Not everything about these efforts was, strictly speaking, good-natured and altruistic, but there was much that was good. Russia should be grateful to the U.S. for helping those suffering from starvation in the 1920s, and for the Lend-Lease in the 1940s, Europe for the Marshall Plan, and a lot more besides. We remember, we appreciate.
For a hundred years, America was the most important and greatest country in the world. But now, it seems that this era is coming to an end, and it is Americans themselves who are bringing it to a close by choosing as their president a man with the slogan ‘America First’. The essence of the matter lies precisely in this slogan, because the second one, ‘Make America Great Again’, is just meaningless nonsense for ignorant rednecks. ‘America First’ and MAGA are two opposing vectors. Either you choose greatness (and in that case, you have to pay the tax of greatness), or to prioritise national interests (and in that case, you don’t need to spend on others).
The ‘others’ are you and me. All that’s left is for us to say ‘Goodbye America. It wasn’t very good for us with you, but it will be worse without you’. And then bravely sing I will survive.
Let’s forget about America. It’s no longer with us. That’s to say, it’s not going anywhere, of course; it will continue to impose its political and economic interests, but no longer from above, and rather from somewhere on the side. Soon we will stop paying attention to American domestic politics, just as we don’t closely follow, say, Indian politics. Who has the majority in Congress and what winds are currently blowing in Washington will no longer have a direct impact on our lives. Well, the winds blow, and let them do so.
As a result of the Trump U-turn, our lives will change. There is much still to understand and to come to terms with, but some things are already starting to emerge.
For example, it is clear that Europe’s global significance and role is greatly increasing. Is it ready for such a burden? Will it be able to cope with it? It is still unclear.
There are several questions here.
Will European society learn its lesson from the mistakes of the American democratic establishment? Will it rid itself of the extremes of left-wing ideologies that infuriate common sense and push voters to the right?
Will European countries be able to move beyond the limitations of national selfishness and see themselves as a confederation united by a common political course?
Even more importantly: does Europe have the determination to defend itself? Without its big brother, all on its own? Is it capable of being firm and courageous?
Will Europe show solidarity with Ukraine not in words, but with action – will it fully commit, compensating for ‘Amexit’? After all, Ukraine is very close by, and the cries of pain and sounds of explosions can be heard from there. Moreover, Ukraine’s security is also Europe’s security.
There can be only one slogan here: Make Europe Great. Without the ‘Again’, because under great America, Europe was not great. Now it will have to be.
And America, what about it? Take up the banjo, play me a farewell tune…
Translated by Annabel Pedgley
