T
o assert itself on the world stage, Europe first has to take pride in what it has become since 1945: a democratic, social and transnational power. European countries, which had long been fierce rivals and colonial empires, united after experiencing the abyss. Within this union, they developed a new social and democratic model, and Europe became a social-democratic power. This does not confine Europe to a particular political camp: It is simply a recognition of the broad consensus across the continent in support of the European social model.
The terms may vary: German conservatives refer to a "social market economy," some prefer the notion of a "social state," others speak of "ecological social democracy" or "eco-socialism." These debates are legitimate, but the fact remains that no significant political force in Europe is proposing to reduce the role of the state to what it was in 1914 – less than 10% of gross domestic product (GDP), consisting mainly of sovereign and military spending. The most prosperous Nordic countries, such as Denmark, Sweden and Norway, have public spending close to 45% or 50% of GDP, similar from an historical perspective to the levels seen in Germany and France, and no one is going to reverse this reality.
