She will go down in German and European history as a leader with a huge amount of staying power at the ve… What led you to investigate the global conquests of western Europe? And despite the frictions between parts of Europe and the George W. Bush administration, Barack Obama became almost a cult figure in his popularity in much of Europe. That was a really great question and it got me interested. The United States spends 2.7 per cent –twice as much as Europe – on universities and R&D. Countries become powerful because they have energetic people and economic and political systems that work. [vii]  Mark Leonard, Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century (London:  Fourth Estate, 2005), p. 2. [v]  Charlemagne, “Lessons from ‘The Leopard’”, The Economist, December 12, 2009, p. 61. How did this work? The political scientist Andrew Moravcsik makes a similar argument that European nations, singly and collectively, are the only states other than the U.S. able to “exert global influence across the full spectrum from ‘hard’ to ‘soft’ power. It's just fascinating. The rest of Europe at that time was really no wealthier than China, the Middle East, or South Asia. So more spending would not only mean greater odds of victory over an enemy, but more rapid change in military technology. ... Italy is an EU founding member and Italians were once strong supporters of the European project. Thus Europeans ended up with superior, more powerful navies. In this article we take in-depth look at the people of Central and Northern Europe and examine facts and history about the Celts. So it is easier to succeed. For example, how did states get the ability to impose heavy taxes? Many of the conquering European kingdoms were extremely powerful and unified, and any with a lack of manpower (Portugal and the Dutch) made up for it with relative wealth. Disease can't explain, for example, the colonization of India, because people in southeast Asia had the same immunity to disease that the Europeans did. You'll still need to back up the peace with armed forces, but you won't actually fight all that much, and that's a much better outcome. [iii]  Chris Patten, “What Is Europe to Do?” New York Review of Books, March 11, 2010, p. 12. Joseph Nye is a Harvard University Distinguished Services Professor, and a former chair of the US National Intelligence Council. Yes, there are lots of conventional explanations—industrialization, for example—but on closer inspection they all fall apart. The British Empire. In some ways, the inevitable frictions between the two continents show a closeness rather than a distance. Are there any overarching themes to your work? The History Of European Colonization Of The Americas Sometime during the 11th century was the first of many European colonization endeavors. Predictions of European decline rely on an outmoded understanding of power. Those improvements can help at times when wars are necessary—for instance, when we are fighting against enemies with whom we cannot negotiate. They competed more with each other through war, which meant that they were forced to develop better technologies that helped. This advantage endures even today!! How is your theory different? Legal integration is increasing, and European Court verdicts have compelled member countries to change policies. That meeting and Europe’s absence was the ‘seminal image’ of 2009.”[iv]  Moreover, after the 2008 financial crisis, the fiscal problems of several EU members, particularly Greece, exposed the limits of fiscal integration in the Eurozone and  raised questions about  role of the Euro. There's a reason central Europe removed so many of it's mixed coniferous forests with coniferous monocultures. In terms of economic power, Europe has the world’s largest market, and represents 17 per cent of world trade compared to 12 per cent for the U.S., and Europe dispenses half of the world’s foreign assistance compared to 20 per cent for the U.S. But if Europe and America remain loosely allied or even neutral, these resources could reinforce each other . Or, that when Europeans began to travel the world, people in other countries did not have the immunity to fight off the diseases they brought with them. In 1900, Europe accounted for a quarter of the world’s population. Then you can bargain with your enemies to divvy up whatever you disagree about and you can have something like peace. Many of the conquering European kingdoms were extremely powerful and unified, and any with a lack of manpower (Portugal and the Dutch) made up for it with relative wealth. European countries engaged in imperialism for various reasons. That is, most people in that age strongly believed in God, heaven and hell, and the Catholic Church was the center of that belief. This is an exclusive excerpt from Joseph Nye’s forthcoming book, The Future of Power. Personally, I would much rather see expenditures devoted to infrastructure, or scientific research, or free preschool for everybody—things that would carry big economic benefits—but in this world, I don't think you can stop doing military research or spending money on the military. Before 1800, Europe had already taken over at least 35 percent of the world, but Britain was just beginning to industrialize. All Europeans (except after the Orthodox Schism) payed tithes to him and homage so he could grant them favour with God. [iv]  Marcus Walker, “EU Sees Dreams of Power Wane as ‘G-2’ Rises,” Wall Street Journal, January 27, 2010. American per capita income is higher than that of the EU, because a number of the new entrants into the European Union were poorer than the original West European core countries, but in terms of human capital, technology, and exports, Europe is very much a peer competitor for the United States. For example, that Europe became industrialized more quickly and therefore became wealthier than the rest of the world. Over the years I've been interested in a number of different things, and this new work puts together a lot of bits of my research. Unfortunately, they seem to have a relatively short … Such enemies existed in the past—they were fighting for glory on the battlefield or victory over an enemy of the faith—and one could argue that they pose a threat today as well. Ruthless Colonial Exploitation & Expansion Gave Europe Prosperity! There's a reason central Europe removed so many of it's mixed coniferous forests with coniferous monocultures. Many theories purport to … As The Economist noted, “talk of Europe’s relative decline seems to be everywhere just now….You may hear glum figures about Europe’s future weight and with some reason. In the cyber world, the EU is setting the global standards for privacy protection. One lesson the book teaches is that actions involving war, foreign policy, and military spending can have big, long-lasting consequences: this is a lesson that policy makers should never forget. [ii] The enlargement of the European Union to include 27 states (with more to come) means that European institutions are likely to remain sui generis, and unlikely to produce a strong federal Europe or a single state. Tens of thousands of troops have been deployed outside of home countries in Sierra Leone, Congo, Ivory Coast, Chad, Lebanon, and Afghanistan. The book also reminds us that in a world where there are hostile powers, we really don't want to get rid of spending on improving military technology. The economic model then connected that spending to changes in military technology. While you think Rome is powerful, they also lost a significant number of battles. [ix] “Weathering the Storm,” The Economist, September 9, 2000, p. 23. Things are much better if the conflict concerns something that can be split up—such as money or land. No doubts about it. Direct investment in both directions is higher than with Asia and helps knit the economies together. Andrew Marr looks at why it is that German chancellor Angela Merkel is making such a profound mark on the lives of everyone in Europe, on the eve of her visit to the UK. King Henry ruled the Holy Roman Empire and he appointed clergy to gain power and Pope Gregory VII found out and banned King Henry from the church. We spoke with him recently about his research interests and what led him to study this particular topic. Insofar as the term retains any meaning, the world is. What made you turn to the idea of gunpowder technology as an explanation? Instead, Europe is starting to look like the loser in a new geopolitical order dominated by the U.S. and emerging powers led by China….No Europeans were invited when U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held the make-or-break meeting on Dec. 18 that brokered the modest Copenhagen accord. Roman Empire. They were well organized, came from the wealthiest families and well educated. None of this is to belittle European institutions and what they have accomplished. The Chinese invited the leaders of India, Brazil and South Africa. In either case, you'll still be spending money on the military and on military research. If you think about it, you realize that advancements in gunpowder technology—which are important for conquest—arise where political leaders fight using that technology, where they spend huge sums on it, and where they're able to share the resulting advances in that technology. Being dominated for centuries has led to lingering inequality and long-lasting effects in many formerly colonized countries, including poverty and slow economic growth. Helmut Kohl and Helmut Schmidt came close, but neither were in as strong a position as she is at such a late stage in their chancellorships. And the more that the political leaders spend, the better their chances of defeating other leaders and, in the long run, of dominating the other cultures. Until the Spring crisis of 2010 when fiscal problems in Greece and elsewhere created anxiety in financial markets, many economists speculated that the Euro might some day replace the dollar as the world’s primary reserve  currency. Religion: one major reason why Europe's labor unions are so powerful By The Wilson Quarterly Why do 70% of European workers have collective bargaining, while only 13% of their US counterparts do? Angela Merkel is now into her third term in office, and it has a historical dimension – not just because she is at the xenith of her power, but because Konrad Adenauer is the only chancellor before her to have had such a strong standing after a similar amount of time in office. Until the Spring crisis of 2010 when fiscal problems in Greece and elsewhere created anxiety in financial markets, many economists speculated that the Euro might some day replace the dollar as the world’s primary reserve  currency. In terms of relative power, if the EU endeavored to become a global challenger to the United States in a traditional realist balance of power, these assets might counter American power. What are three reason why European countries needed or wanted colonies? A thousand years ago, no one would have ever expected that result, for at that point western Europe was hopelessly backward. I absolutely love travelling to exotic and far-flung destinations, but a few of my recent trips (Dublin and Barcelona) have reminded me how amazingly fortunate I am to live in a country that is so close to so many other countries. Exploring why that may be so, ... Russia is powerful because Europe grants that power to Russia. Europe has built up an economic union but not a defence union. Gunpowder was really important for conquering territory; it allows a small number of people to exercise a lot of influence. Pines and the like just shoot straight up into the sky, making them extremely easy to work with. My idea incorporates the model of a contest or a tournament where your odds of winning are higher if you spend more resources on fighting. Saxons & Vikings & the Dutch, French and German Empires ect are all Europeans and claimed much islands and colony's to gain recourse's to build their empires from their neighbouring powerful nations. The charts that show why Italy matters so much to Europe. Europeans grew wealthy as a result of easy access to American resources. In other words, what is Europe’s power conversion capability? In soft power, European cultures have long had a wide appeal in the rest of the world, and the sense of a Europe uniting around Brussels has had a strong attraction for its neighbors. This season, the Premier League is fulfilling Mourinho’s words and proving just why it has a greater appeal than the other leagues. The Chinese invited the leaders of India, Brazil and South Africa. Its lack of vision, divisions, obsession with legal frameworks, unwillingness to project military power, and sclerotic economy are contrasted with a United States more dominant even than Rome…But the problem is not Europe – it is our outdated understanding of power.”[vii]. More than 20 years ago, Germany made a sacrifice for Europe at Maastricht when it agreed to put the deutschmark to the sword so that another currency could be born. Why was the pope a powerful figure in medieval Europe? The BBC's Andrew Marr looks at why it is that Ms Merkel is making such a profound mark on the lives of people in Europe. New technology, flexibility in labor markets, strong venture capital and an entrepreneurial culture make the American market attractive to European investors. Philip Hoffman, Rea A. and Lela G. Axline Professor of Business Economics and Professor of History, Credit: Courtesy of Philip Hoffman/Caltech, Click here to open the "Quick Links" submenu, Click here to open the "Research" Submenu, Click here to open the "Academics" Submenu, Click here to open the "Admissions & Aid" Submenu, Click here to open the "Campus Life & Events" Submenu, Technology Transfer & Corporate Partnerships. Even in a traditional realist assessment of balance of power resources, neither the US nor Europe are likely to threaten the vital or important interests of the other side. The reason European countries wanted more colonies was that colonies helped countries accumulate wealth and … All Europeans (except after the Orthodox Schism) payed tithes to him and homage so he could grant them favour with God. The political dominance of western Europe was an unexpected outcome and had really big consequences, so I thought: let's explain it. Many theories purport to explain how the West became dominant. For that to happen, the countries have to be small and close to one another. Although the American economy is four times larger than Germany’s, the total economy of the European Union is slightly larger than that of the U.S. in purchasing power parity, and Europe’s  population of nearly 500 million is considerably larger than America’s 300 million. So that's not the answer—it's something else. Yet before the Settlers came to america Britian had alot of … They were able to exploit the feuds of the Americans, Africans, Muslims and Asians in order to conduct deals, gaining them land and increasing their influence slowly. I'd given it to him because the use of this technology is related to politics and fiscal systems and taxes, and as he was reading it, he noted that the book did not give the ultimate cause of why Europe in particular was so successful. Why was the Roman Catholic Church so powerful in medieval Europe quizlet? Finally, and this is my most important point, Russia is powerful because Europe grants that power to Russia. You have been on the Caltech faculty for more than 30 years. On questions of trade and influence within the World Trade Organization, Europe is the equal of the United States and able to balance American power. They were well organized, came from the wealthiest families and well educated. What were the politics and the political context of the economy that resulted in this ability to tax? They were able to exploit the feuds of the Americans, Africans, Muslims and Asians in order to conduct deals, gaining them land and increasing their influence slowly. Greek Empire. The National Intelligence Council report foresees a Europe in 2050 that will be “a hobbled giant distracted by internal bickering and competing national agendas”. To many Americans (for example) Europe is the ultimate travel experience. On the other hand, legislative and executive branch integration has lagged, and while Europe has created a president and a central figure for foreign relations, the integration of foreign and defense policy is still limited. I've also been interested in the development of tax systems. The key question in assessing Europe’s resources is whether Europe will develop enough political and social-cultural cohesion to act as one on a wide range of international issues, or whether it will remain a limited grouping of countries with strongly different nationalisms and foreign policies. American per capita income is higher than that of the EU, because a number of the new entrants into the European Union were poorer than the original West European core countries, but in terms of human capital, technology, and exports, Europe is very much a peer competitor for the United States. I suppose an element of this is due to the fact that they are long-haul destinations for them (anywhere far away is bound to be more exciting and exotic) but the Yanks are on to something, Europe really is the most romantic continent on earth. At the cultural level, Americans and Europeans have sniped at and admired each other for more than two centuries. And in a larger sense, Americans and Europeans share the values of democracy and human rights more with each other than with other regions of the world. I wish we did live in that world, but unfortunately it's not realistic. One big factor that's important to the advancement of any defense technology is how much money a political leader can spend. At the same time, Europe faces significant limits on its degree of unity. The difficult business of containing Germany — so large, so rich, and so powerful — must be the key to Britain’s policy in Europe, wrote the head of the Foreign Office more than 100 years ago. In the words of Lord Patten, a former member of the European Commission, “unlike the US we do not matter everywhere.”[iii]. Speaking of … so the Europeans had so much power and used it to their advantage of gaining respect. And on issues that require power with rather than over others, the Europeans have impressive capacity. Why Angela Merkel is the world's most powerful woman WHEN the Berlin Wall was torn down by the East German people, Angela Merkel, a scientist who lived in … In 1914, really only China, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire had escaped becoming European colonies. Some other nations in other regions were more secure at the time which made them not have to … This is the beauty of Europe, and these are endless reasons why why Europe is the best continent in the world. Also to know is, what were three reasons why the Catholic Church became so powerful in medieval Europe? Our past contributors have included Jürgen Habermas, Michel Houellebecq and Michael Walzer, among many others. The Catholic Church put forth the belief that people could only get to heaven through the Church. Another explanation, described in Jared Diamond's famous book [Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies], is disease. A d100 is rolled and then modified by the maneuver of the leading general on each side to determine the terrain, you can be in for some nasty surpises if you attack high maneuver generals. 18 April 1951: the Treaty of Paris creates the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The Chinese invented gunpowder, but Hoffman, whose work applies economic theory to historical contexts, argues that certain political and economic circumstances allowed the Europeans to advance gunpowder technology at an unprecedented rate—allowing a relatively small number of people to quickly take over much of the rest of the globe. Instead, European governments (and the IMF) had to organize a $925 million rescue program to try to restore market confidence, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that if the Euro fails, “then not only the currency fails…Europe will fail, and with it the idea of European unity.”[i].