Is Europe failing? On imitation and its discontents

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The Fritz Thyssen Foundation continues its tradition with the "Thyssen Lectures," initiated in Germany in 1979 and expanded to various countries, including the Czech Republic, Israel, Russia, and Turkey. The series in Greece, organized over four years under Prof. Vassilios Skouris, former President of the European Court of Justice, focuses on "the EU as a community of European law and values." It raises the question: IS EUROPE FAILING? Three distinct versions of Europe shape its current identity: postwar Europe after 1945, the post-1968 Europe of human rights, and the united Europe that emerged after the Cold War. Each of these is now in question. The postwar Europe is faltering as the memory of conflict fades, leading to a Europe that struggles to defend itself. The post-1968 Europe, which emphasized minority rights, faces challenges in addressing the cultural rights of majorities without compromising democratic principles. Additionally, Eastern Europeans are increasingly reluctant to imitate the West, seeking to create their own models rather than conforming to Western standards. These failures prompt a critical inquiry: do they signify that Europe is irreversibly disintegrating?