In times such as these, one cannot help but think back to a well-known quote of Lenin:
"There are decades when nothing happens, and there are weeks in which decades happen."
Politics has always been a sphere of various interests and complex influences. Only those who hold power in economic, innovative, and visionary terms can sit at the political table. Much to the chagrin of forces like the EU, politics has never been a place for love, sentimentality, and emotions. Now, the great powers— the US, Russia, and China — are pushing the EU off the table, as it has failed for decades to understand basic global power politics and accordingly transform its position in a pragmatic way.
Instead of anticipating and adjusting to the geopolitical processes that have been clearly visible for many years, the EU instead preoccupied itself with trivial "witch hunts" of its domestic and foreign political opponents. Many of whom, were carefully following global events and pointing out the dangers of absence of any concrete European strategy. Instead of developing such a strategy, the EU created strategies of revenge and retribution against the disobedient "violators of the rule of law," a concept which they have still themselves failed to explain.
2025, however, will be a year of new political beginnings in Europe and the world. New global coalitions are on the horizon. The quasi-liberal order that has been suffocating the world no longer has the strength or capacity to oppose to the new political "hurricane" of Donald Trump and his "Tsunami" administration. Repairing the damage caused by false liberalism and fake democracy will begin in 2025. The era of centrism and centrally arranged bureaucratic structures will also suffer a major blow, although we will still experience their aftershocks. Many people around the world have strongly and boldly called for new political changes as a last cry to save human civilization from these false liberal-democratic values and principles.
The greatest EU priority today is to find ways to put the demos back into the democracy. But, if the citizens do not have the power to influence on the processes in their country, how will they have the power to influence EU processes? How can we talk about a democratic EU, if citizens do not have the power to participate in the democratic processes? Are EU citizens true creators of the EU institutions, or are they just statists? Does everything depend on the citizens’ will, or everything is far from the citizens? Unfortunately, the answers to all questions are negative.
For decades, the EU wasted time on fostering irrelevant ideological propaganda and stripping away citizens’ national authority in favour of creating a labyrinth of unaccountable European bodies, organizations, and institutions. The EU was continuously sinking into democratic deficit while constantly insisting that it is a house of democracy. While some EU leaders pointed out this issue and publicly criticized others for violating democratic values, most did not. Decade after decade, however, the EU failed to break out of this vicious circle. They did not create new democratic ambiances which would have strong inputs in the national democracy of its Member States. If the EU had managed to transformits democratic nature, this would have eventually provided better foundations for stronger and meaningful European democracy. Instead of democratic changes, the EU chose to work in secrecy, boosting technocrats and the interests of the European elites. As a result of these false steps, European citizens wake up every day with a desire for revolt against Brussels. EU citizens became aware that right-wing and conservative parties have developed the capacity and power to enact desired changes. The existing quasi-liberal and clientelist order that developed over the past 60 years is now useless. Globalism and the international elitist community are losing the battle against a new sound civic patriotism. In 2025, the EU, the UN, the World Bank, and NATO will fall into major crisis, lose their dominant role in shaping international politics, and will face an existential crisis.
These changes, which many liberals will consider apocalyptic are actually very simple and natural changes that come because of people's rejection of an artificial political order which imposes lies and false values.
These changes will restore the natural order that dominated before globalization and President Trump will accelerate the need to return to that natural, non-imposed, immanent order of each nation. This order will be a reaction against the unproductive and degenerated system of some "world government" that has tormented the world for decades. The rise of the right in Europe clearly demonstrates this new trend. Their political strengthening is a direct result of citizens rejecting the current policies of the "liberal" and "democratic" political elites in Europe, who, instead of working in the interests of their citizens, have alienated themselves and are mired in a rotten system which yields no benefits to its citizens.
While Elon Musk was creating technological revolutions for humanity, what was the EU doing? The EU was focused on migrant policies, preparing "nuclear options" for Hungary and Poland for rightfully defying such policies, and harassing the Western Balkans with an endless EU accession process. The EU has unnecessarily bogged itself down by bureaucratizing politics and administrative harassment, all at the expense of the European taxpayer. The EU wasted precious time that could have been spent on delivering values and projects that would benefit the Union and its member states.
Europe, or rather its nations, however, are waking up again. After several decades of stupor and stagnation caused by the false democratic clichés, quasi-liberal phrases, and invented terms served to them by European elites, the European citizens and nations are finally reasserting themselves, seeking to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. The lies and manipulations of the Brussels elite have resulted in the loss of European’s national identity, their traditions, families, culture and history, all in the name of some so-called higher globalist ‘values’. Europeans feel the ever-growing distance between themselves and their politicians and no longer feel represented by their leaders. The reason for this trend lies in the EU’s and much of the West’s weak political leadership and the decline of national sovereignty.
The rejection and decline of national sovereignty is perhaps the biggest mistake Europe made in the post-war order. After World War II, European leaders wrongly believed that patriotism was to blame for the war. Across Europe, politicians made the mistake of equating patriotism with extremism. Patriotism, once the greatest civic virtue, became the greatest civic vice. Patriotism, once the daughter of modern democracy and the guardian of civic freedom, became a term that is dangerous and sinful to utter. Instead of acknowledging that patriotism is the strength of every state, patriotism was put in the crosshairs. Instead of explaining to new generations that Hitler’s totalitarian Nazism started World War II, patriotism was blamed. Instead of explaining Hitler’s evil Nazi beliefs created the Holocaust, patriotism was blamed. Instead of explaining the Soviet communist regime sent people to the Gulag, patriotism was blamed. This coordinated narrative shift, resulted in the large-scale extinguishing of patriotism in Europe.
The time has come, however, for a return to patriotism. True patriots are always democrats because true patriots love their country and people. True patriots do not seek conflict, but they are willing to fight so their national identity, state, and people are not imprisoned. Patriotism is not a totalitarian ideology aimed at ruling the world, it is the pure love of every patriot for his homeland and national identity. It is precisely this love that is the strongest energy opposing the totalitarian ideologies that seek to dominate the world.
The world today is not the world of yesterday. The ongoing rapid and radical transformations we are witnessing today are disrupting both established systems and expectations. National identities, once taken for granted, are being reevaluated as countries and their citizens assert their values and interests more boldly. Globalist power structures are increasingly being challenged by new patriotic political forces, movements, and individuals. New political alliances are shifting, with old partnerships being tested and new ones emerging. The rules of the game are no longer governed solely by historical powers, but emerging nations are asserting their influence more confidently. The balance of power is now becoming more fluid and multipolar. What seemed like unshakable norms yesterday may now be shattered or outdated.
While these profound changes can be difficult and chaotic, they also provide great opportunities.
Instead of behaving like firefighters debating which window to enter, while their house is burning, European leaders need to compose themselves and rally the troops. They should advocate for political mobilization and creation of a new "Marshall Plan" which unites all parts of Europe, stabilizing the EU, simplifying its administrative processes, eliminating excessive regulations, creating a more efficient and transparent decision-making process, and removing obstacles that hinder effective functioning of its institutions. Instead of empty demagoguery about "open windows" in the EU, the European leaders need to sit down and create a clear and urgent plan for restructuring the EU to align with the Trump administration.
Empty contemplations about the supposed strength of the EU no longer suffice. Urgent action is required to take the administrative helm and turn the ship towards the Atlantic Ocean and close cooperation with its American allies who are clearly steering politics in the interest of the Western democratic values—respect of rule of law, respect of human rights, freedom of speech, entrepreneurship, protection of competition, and a strong innovative economy.
While the United States now races to keep pace with the relentless rise of Asia’s economic tigers who are conquering the world, Europe remains asleep, dreaming of past glories and clinging to imagined values.
It is time for Europe to wake up, or the sleeping beauty will sleep its entire life and wake up as an old woman.
