“Europe is feeling uncertain in a rapidly changing world. While European cities possess enormously rich cultural and historical heritages that make them a magnet for tourists, the forces of globalization are sweeping across the land. Europe is staging an unprecedented experiment to integrate different countries into one supranational entity, with the help of tens of thousands of specially trained eurocrats. With its high standard of living and generous social models, Europe is a very comfortable place to live, but can barely afford it anymore. Protectionist feelings are spreading, including the willingness to guard traditional ways of life from people of different cultures and religions. Finally, in losing its central position in world affairs, Europe wants to be left alone and focus on internal development rather than external ambition.”

Fyodor Lukyanov, Chefredakteur der Zeitschrift Russia in Global Affairs, mit einer, wie ich finde, sehr präganten Beschreibung des derzeitigen europäischen Selbstverständnisses.

Der Beitrag von Lukyanov ist Teil einer exzellent zu lesenden Artikelserie der New York Times, die fragt, welche Stadt in Europa zurzeit das dynamische Zentrum des Kontinents darstellt: Where would Hemingway go?