An expert compares the current situation in Europe to the eve of the Second World War. In his eyes, Western democracies should wake up after the election of Donald Trump.
Christoph Cöln / t-online
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The war in Ukraine has lasted for more than a year and a half and does not appear likely to end any time soon. For Karl Schlögel, a German military expert, the risk of widespread conflict is increasing in a West facing internal and external threats. He spoke in the local German press and did not mince his words:
“We find ourselves in a pre-war situation which, without falling into analogy, has a lot to do with the 1930s”
Karl SchlögelRhenish Post
Karl Schlögel sees parallels with the 1930s.dr
And this specialist knows Eastern Europe well. This 76-year-old German professor traveled extensively during his studies through Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. He notably studied in Moscow. He then told the story of Slavic history, culture and mentality through numerous works.
In the 1930s too, according to him, something was afoot, which we sensed very well, without being able to evaluate it precisely. The current geopolitical situation is subject to the same atmosphere, he believes, the war in Ukraine being the most emblematic representation.
“The question is whether we will face the dangers or whether we will give in and capitulate. I never thought that such a scenario would happen and that we would find ourselves facing such a difficult ordeal.
Karl Schlögel
The historian continues to draw parallels with the situation on the eve of the Second World War. At the time too, there was “analytical, intellectual and political overwork”.
Putin, “a sadist”
He early on called not to underestimate Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He describes him as a “KGB-trained power manager,” a “sadist”, subject to “imperial fantasies» while waging “postmodern cyberwar”. He tries with great mastery “to divide Europeans”.
For Karl Schlögel, it is difficult to know how Europe will overcome these pitfalls. He judges thatshe “has no control over the Russian threat” and detects in Western secular societies and their politicians “internal contradictions” and “self-destructive developments”, including “a desire to capitulate to brute force”. However, he prefers to be optimistic. In his eyes, everything suggests that the European Union is much stronger than it appears today.
“Change” with Donald Trump
He also refuses to think that future US President Donald Trump will abandon Ukraine, because that would mean abandoning “everything the United States stands for.” But, “there is bound to be change.” It remains to find how to adapt to it.
“The United States will no longer bear the sole burden of defending the West and supporting Ukraine. There will be a new distribution of roles. This is exactly what awaits Europe and Germany.”
Karl Schlögel
For Karl Schlögel, the populism which is also developing on the Old Continent is a symptom to be taken very seriously:
“If the will of voters leads to a strengthening of demagogues and polarization to the left or right, this means that democracy is dysfunctional”
Karl Schlögel
According to the historian, the whole situation is ultimately not really surprising, and we could have prepared for it much earlier. Karl Schlögel believes that political personnel in Western democracies must adapt to this “new type of leader”. His request has remained a dead letter, for now at least.
(Translated from German by Valentine Zenker)
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