Europe 'in danger' from ...

Nationalism, according to this clueless article from the Telegraph.

The writer projects that the European Union is in danger of failing, and that in whichever of two scenarios he envisions, nationalism will rise. He finds this frightening, apparently.

''Politicians in the modern era have sought to divide and rule. Because of the lack of an external enemy, appeals are made to sectional groups in the electorate at home – ethnic, sexual, religious or economic communities who are then set against other groups in their own nation.''

Here again we have one of these obtuse people who have convinced themselves that there would be no ethnic, sexual, religious or economic divisions, if they were not artifically stirred up by demagogues. This point of view is held by many 'right-wing' liberals, or the people we call 'neocons' in this country. They like to blame outside causes for any kind of ethnic/racial/cultural clashes and animosities, refusing to acknowledge that such divisions have always existed, and cannot be wished out of existence or papered over with some kind of 'civic patriotism' or proposition nationalism as his country, Britain, has attempted to impose.

Of course our own political classes have been working on imposing this system on us for a couple of centuries at least, much more gradually, and their 'boiling the frog slowly' approach has worked somewhat.  Still, it runs counter to human nature, this 'civic' nationalism in which people from every corner of the globe and every religion are urged to unite. It is a system which is very high maintenance, requiring that free discussion and free thought must be stifled, and thoughts must be controlled, so as to erase the natural impulses for like to bond with like.

The comments show that there are quite a few people with healthy impulses still. One comment rightly says, speaking of demagogues, that

''The abominable EU is the work of the demagogues.''

Another good comment by "davejon"

"Politicians in the modern era have sought to divide and rule" - yes, like "rubbing our noses in diversity" (Andrew Neather)? Nationalism reacts against unnatural processes like mass immigration and multiculturalism, and a reaction against the governing elites is way overdue. Nationalism cannot be blamed, but the elites can.''

 Commenter rogerhicks says:

I agree, nationalism is what we NEED, in contrast to what we've got, which is statism, and a state which claims to represent our nation, while demonising and suppressing the natural ethnic foundations of national identity.
The state has succeeded in giving nationalism an extremely bad name, which is why it now distances itself from it and suppresses its natural ethnic foundations.
We must stop equating state and nation, and recognise
how the state manipulates and exploits our inherent tribal (nationalist) nature by itself posing as our nation. Then we can begin - proceeding peacefully, legally and grassroots-democrtically - a nationalist revival which will put the state in its place as the servant, instead of the exploiter, of the nations which comprise it.''

I don't know whether a similar article in an American newspaper would elicit as many sensible comments. I hate to say that, but I think these kinds of comments are far rarer in our media. The only place they might be found would be on an ethnonationalist blog. Britain as a country may be in worse shape than we are but there are people who still have their instincts intact.