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Tue, Jul 21st 2009, 12:17

Markus Rackow, University of Leipzig, (2)

Unfortunately, it is usual that retired "elder" statesmen are always the first on job-lists and given important jobs instead of ushering and fostering new minds with new and fresh ideas, without glitter and without a past that is often forgotten as it seems in Mr Blair's case. For many years he has been the scapegoat of many European politicians as one of the obstacles for European unity in foreign affairs. With the new Obama administration even his close connection to the US could have been severed. When the EU wants to touch people's hearts and minds, it needs a different kind of political elite that is not ousted fom domestic to european affairs (german cases would be Edmund Stoiber, one could also argue about Mr Verheugen, and up to come Mr Schäuble possibly replacing the former. Schäuble is currently interior minister in the Merkel administration but undoubtedly not the chancellor's favorite). But as the saying goes: "Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people."

Tue, Jul 21st 2009, 15:42

Julia Follick, Georgetown University, Gold Contributor (129)

I agree that established national politicians are exactly the ones who are most likely to subvert lofty European goals in favor of narrow national aims. However, negotiating complicated and delicate multi-state solutions is not easy, and political experience will certainly help. It's sort of a Catch-22: the leaders with the most skills and experience to solve Europe's problems are those who are have the least incentives to use those skills to that end.

If a wider range of people would get involved in the foreign policy debate, more people would have experience with the issues and there would be more suitable candidates to pick from. Maybe it's a stretch to say that Atlantic Community is working to solve this problem, but I think if there's ever a way for a European candidate to rise to power without the aid of a long distinguished national CV, it's going to be through movements of "normal people" organized over the internet.

Tue, Jul 21st 2009, 18:26

Colette Grace Mazzucelli, Hofstra University / New York University, Platinum Contributor (333)

Good day, Julia,

Thank you for your comments. Given all that is happening in Europe now, it strikes me that future leaders from a new generation are likely to emerge because of the sense that there is a need to address global challenges in proactive ways. One of the difficulties is that the Union is stuck in a treaty reform process as traditional engines of integration keep stalling.

Sunday I listened to Paul Kagame on Fareed Zakaria GPS. The president's unique experience in that country's history makes him the leader for a nation today, which has emerged in Africa after the genocide 15 years ago. His actions in the present look to the future.

I believe that now more than ever Europe needs a leader in external relations who can inspire a culture of hope, as analyzed in Dominique Moisi's The Geopolitics of Emotion. Genuine leadership asks people to aspire to the experience of a purpose larger than themselves.

A national CV can be very helpful if it profiles the background of a person with a pragmatic vision of Europe. This is not simply the importation of the national culture to Brussels. That person must have a real sense of what Europe has the potential to be and to do. In other words, leadership as active response to the question of how Europe makes a qualitative difference in the lives of people in the world as it evolves in this time.

How can Europe be a 21st century model for peace when the conflict going on inside most states today is between haves and have-nots? Right on its doorstep Europe faces millions of neighbors whose goal is to emigrate because they cannot live where they are at home. As years pass and demographics change, these are the core issues for European security. In this context, the NATO debate is, quite candidly, on the margins of history.

I agree with your assessment that the Internet has a role to play in the organization and motivation of "ordinary citizens" with a sense of civic responsibility. The future leaders of Europe may well come from these ranks with an awareness that past achievements are important to recall in the context of what present realities ask us to achieve.

All the best and greetings from a Georgetown alumna, Colette Mazzucelli