dropglobalnews

There’s a video going viral on social media of a guy visiting Europe and stating that the continent is no longer relevant or productive and has been reduced to a mere tourist park for foreigners. (Ironically this is the subtext of an acerbic novel called “The Map and the Territory” by French author Michel Houellebecq.)

I disagree with his assessment. The European Union is highly productive in tech and healthcare and boasts many world-class institutions that would be considered national treasures in any part of the world. It is true that some European cities feel a bit sleepy but this is due to aging demographics and an inverted population pyramid that seems to be an inevitable byproduct of late modernity.

Having said all that I found this video objectionable because it is simply rude to go to someone else’s country and make these kinds of derogatory and arrogant statements. Stereotyping and degrading Europeans over historic bad acts is simply tasteless. I hope this guy wasn’t American.

Writer, podcaster, and commentator on foreign affairs and politics. Runs /dropglobalnews

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"Taking 9 months off a year and retiring at 12 years old." Lol, but I would take that trade if it actually existed