Foreign Policy Rant Edition (Heather Hurlburt & Daniel Drezner)

[dieter]

Originally Posted by Sulla the Dictator

Because the European Union can also be known as a German trading bloc. Ten percent of all German goods sold in France. 7% in Italy. 6% in the Netherlands. Belgium, and Austria each, and it goes on like that. Almost 50% of German trade is done within the EU, which is why Germany is the world's second largest exporter. Spread that out over Europe and you see Germany's interest in the experiment; European consumerism is why they can afford a bloated welfare state.

That's nonsense. PIIGS-consumerism is a huge burden on Germany's public and private incomes. Since the introduction of the Euro, the loss amounts to about 10% of GDP per annum.

The current state of affairs is clearly contrary to Germany's national interest. And that is not surprising, given the self-hatred of German elites.

You are correct in a structural sense though. The fanatical German drive towards self-abolishion by tying itself to Europe, results conversely in Europe being increasingly strangled and dominated by Germany. Other nations were complicit, because it served their short term interests. The PIIGS had a enjoyed a decade of gluttony, which turned to crapulence. The Euro, in its current composition is a mutual negative sum game.