In pursuit of the mantra of Making America Great Again, many see Trump as having upended the very idea of the West, breaking with the notion of allies working together in favour of the US pursuing its interest against all others. But some claim the outcome will be very different: the Making of Europe Great Again. Europe’s combined GDP and standard of living for most of the post-war era was far greater than either the US or China. Critics argue that by relying on American military defence, and ceding global leadership to the US, Europe lost its rightful place as a global leader and its motivation and incentive to focus on productivity and technological progress.
Is the new world one where Europe regains its global voice, and once again targets production and growth? Will the necessity to provide its own defence drive research and boost output? Can Europe find a leadership structure and cultural momentum to make it once again an economic powerhouse and a leader in global affairs, or is it destined to be a minor player to the global giants of the future?
