The terminology is out of fashion, but judging from the Dutch referendum, the habit is not.
In country after country in Europe the population is disaffected with the government, and core countries of the European Union have become discontented with the pan European ideal. There is a tone of populist nationalism. In Germany too, Angela Merkel is signalling a slowing down of enlargement towards the east, and Turkey in the south-east. This may not be openly racist, but reflects a profound mistrust at the homogenising agenda of international finance capitalism that just wants one rational global Empire laid out for the most efficient exploitation. The reaction and counter moves begin to look exponentially complex. Just one idea is that any future referendum on a very much revised constitution should be held in the whole of Europe on the same day, but counted separately by country. That would provide more of an opinion poll on which countries felt they were gaining most from the EU and which least. Perhaps but only perhaps, the European equivalent of pork barrel politics might in due course smooth this out. But state structures are looking more and more fragile in their ability to coordinate consent to and acquiescence in the requirements of finance capitalism. And while Europe has got a major problem in finding a new direction, the countries of Asia continue to build up a competitive advantage against the US. It is alleged that US borrowing already absorbs 80% of the world's available savings. The whole pattern looks very unstable. Organising pop conferences to give charity to Africa, may only give a moral cover to what looks like a chaotically fragile global and economic political system. Chris Burford
