There’s a hilarious BBC skit called The Treaty of Westphalia (part of The Complete History of Everything) that imagines conversations between the European superpowers as they carve up the continent, taking digs at each other’s fish-eating habits (pickled herrings), uniting to kick Germany’s ass, figuring out how to divide Luxembourg, and wondering if they should have a common currency.Britain said it was more interested in its colonies in America. This leads the chief negotiator to wonder what America has to offer besides “tobacco, potatoes, and high-grade narcotics” if you like (while pointing at France, played by Hugh Laurie). Of course, this particular joke became wonderfully temporally layered, as years later Hugh Laurie would play Dr. Gregory House, a version of Sherlock Holmes who shared his desire to solve crimes and his drug addiction. The longer historical joke, of course, is how Britain’s “new colonies” determined the fate of Europe centuries later.Although Western Europe has become increasingly dependent on the United States since 1945, over time the Monroe Doctrine gave way to the Donro Doctrine, which is what Trump does.read: real trumpismSince his return from political exile—something even Napoleon couldn’t do—Trump has spared no effort in treating Europe as it once treated the rest of the world: like a body bag with impunity.Throughout history, Europeans have been adept at using civilized language to create a grammar of violence to justify their barbaric behavior. Land grabbing was a crusade to restore Christian lands. Colonialism was the white man’s burden, not a strategy to sell opium and seize slaves. Trump is largely immune to these linguistic minutiae, but Marco RubioHis secretary of state, national security adviser and the most capable person in the Trump administration is a Republican through and through, which explains why he chose softer toneat this year’s Munich Security Conference.
The End of History: Marco Rubio Edition
In the decades following the end of the Cold War, and until 9/11, Western policymakers lived under the so-called Fukuyama curse: they believed that no matter what upheavals the world produced, liberal democracies would win the coming war: economic, universal, and ideological.For the uninitiated, the argument made by political theorist Francis Fukuyama in The End of History is that liberal democracy, powered by capitalism and free markets, will remain undefeated and that no rival system will be able to challenge this hegemony.Many people disagree.
The most famous of them is Samuel Huntington, who pointed out in “The Clash of Civilizations” that the axis of future conflicts will not be ideology, but civilization. He even carefully selected several civilizations that he believed could challenge Western hegemony: the Orthodox order headed by Russia, the Chinese order headed by China, the Islamic world, and the Hindu civilization centered on India.This resistance to civilization is no longer theoretical.China has risen not by replicating Western liberal democracy but by strengthening a unique political model rooted in civilizational continuity and a hybrid of cafeteria communism or capitalism. Russia has returned to some extent to its Orthodox roots and is flexing its muscles. India’s rise is also related to the rediscovery of its civilizational identity rather than accepting Western constructs. Even across the Islamic world, political rhetoric increasingly speaks of cultural authenticity rather than ideological conformity. Even within Europe, Islam has become a wrench in its liberal order, accelerating the rise of right-wing populism in Europe and the United States.Without mentioning Fukuyama, Huntington or any civilization by name, Rubio launched into a swipe at Munich’s so-called rules-based international order. “We convince ourselves that we have entered the end of history – that every country will eventually become a liberal democracy,” he said. Starting from this assumption, a series of options emerged: Western governments began to believe that “trade will replace geopolitics” and that international institutions can replace national sovereignty. It does not take into account the rise of other civilizational forces.In a speech reminiscent of someone reminding a chicken that it is the descendant of dinosaurs, Rubio evoked Europe’s greatness, reminding it that it was the land of Beethoven and the Beatles, before blaming Europe’s woes on deindustrialization, mass immigration, climate orthodoxy and an overreliance on international institutions. Thankfully, he didn’t mention wokeism by name.He believes: “Acting together in this way, we will not only help restore a sane foreign policy. It will also restore us to a clearer sense of self. It will restore our place in the world and, in so doing, rebuke and deter the civilization-killing forces that threaten the United States and Europe today.”He called the United States “the son of Europe” and concluded by writing: “We should be proud of what we achieved together in the last century, but now we must face and embrace the opportunities of the new century – because yesterday is gone, the future is inevitable, and our common destiny awaits.”
Europe hears ultimatum
For their part, most European leaders publicly celebrated the remarks as a thaw in relations following last year’s J.D. Vance speech, which was much more explicit. Privately, however, European officials fully understand the subtext. An EU official warned Politico: “This is a gentler way of telling us that the days of unicorns riding bicycles across the tofu and almond milk rainbow are over. It’s not just about being reassured. It’s about whether we want to live in reality or in a faux la-la land filled with big announcements. “In fact, the idea is pretty simple—and that’s exactly what Rubio didn’t say: Join us, or else.Last year, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte jokingly called Trump “Dad.” Since then, Europeans have tried to show greater independence. But Rubio’s civilized rhetoric also lurked the same strategic warning. Speaking of civilized language, in the Indian capital, during street fights, when people politely show off the true nature of their patriarchal lineage, a vulgar phrase is often used: “Tu janta hai mera baap kaun hai?” (Do you know who my dad is?)”That’s what Rubio did, politely asking Europe: Do you know who your dad is? And a reminder to Europe of what would happen if America decided to stop being called Dad. While reminding Europe of its history, he also politely reminded Europe that Rubio might want to tell Europe — which is exactly how Trump and his colleagues see them — that they are on the verge of irrelevance. Join Trump and company in a return to civility and equality, but only if people are willing to take a knee.
The Treaty of Westphalia was a long time ago. Long gone are the days when Europe could sail the world and challenge anyone. The world would stop fighting—or even care about the war in Europe—and call it a world war. Instead, the shoe is now on the other foot, with Rubio asking whether Europe wants to be part of this history or fade into irrelevance.Just a little more polite than Trump. He essentially quoted the T-800 from Terminator 2: If you want to leave, come with me. His version of Trump: Come with us or face the destruction of civilization.
