Hutton's declaration of war 2

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Of course Hutton's purpose is not emphasis that Europe too is an
imperialism and no less genetically capable of committing atrocities of
oppression and exploitation than its rival across the Atlantic. But in
the following passage Hutton continues by arguing why Europe has the more
effective approach for leading a pluralist capitalist world:


>>>

The European Union, as it contemplates the admission in the near future
of up to another eight countries in eastern Europe (excluding Bulgaria
and Romania), is becoming the exemplar of what a peaceful multilateral
system of governance can achieve. The range of cross-border initiatives
that the EU has successfully negotiated demonstrates not only that
multilateralism can work, but that it is a vital bulwark of democracy;
markets, social justice and human rights. The European Court of Human
Rights and Europe's commitment to an International Criminal Court point
the way to the future. The EU?s commitment to a social contract and
high-quality; universal, egalitarian social outcomes is a beacon for the
rest of the world. But above all, its ability to offer a forum in which
Europe's nation-states can broker their differences, review one another's
policies and adopt common economic, social and foreign policy positions
is an utterly novel development in world terms. If once the United States
personified the future, increasingly the EU is demonstrating how
inter-dependence can be managed and nurtured. 

This is important both for Europe and for the globe. The US is hostile to
all forms of international co-operation and multilateralist endeavour. It
is wedded to the exercise of autonomous power guaranteed by its military
superiority; and its world view is supported and entrenched by the
vigorous conservative ideology that dominates its politics and economics.
As a result it is not only actively dismantling the complex web of
international treaties that underpin Western security and economic
interests; it is obstructing any creative development of those that it
cannot attack. Without a countervailing power of sufficient strength
prepared to provide finance and political muscle, the development of
multilateral institutions and processes by which a rampant globalisation
may be governed will cease. Only the EU has the weight in the world to
assume this role. 



page 365 (continues from previous quote which was in fact p364-5)

Will Hutton, "The World We're In", Little, Brown, Time Warner
Books, London,
www.TimeWarnerBooks.co.uk