Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century
On March 14, 2006, Mark Leonard, Director of Foreign Policy at the Center for European Reform in London, like Chris Patton, a passionate Atlanticist, gave a provocative lecture based on his book, Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century. Leonard argued that Europe’s problems, demographic and otherwise, as well as the legitimacy crisis posed by the “no” votes on the European Constitution, should not obfuscate the underlying success story represented by the EU and the impact it has had (and could still have) beyond the continent. Leonard argued that American influence has been significantly undermined by the ways America is wielding its military might. By contrast, the EU represents a different model of power, a “transformative power” which is reshaping the world not by force, but through the promise of a better future.
