Is Europe and the World on the Edge of a Precipice?

As a somewhat reluctant student of politics I have to wonder is the Europe I know dead?

We need to look to the past to ascertain the problems of the present, I always looked to Aristotle for answers, a 2000 year old philosopher who understood and predicted the cause of Europe's problems.

I studied politics at University and the one thing i really took to heart was Aristotle's description of what is required for a "flourishing life"

Okay, so what does this flourishing life thing mean? Well in a nutshell it involves political activism as a means to the end of happiness and taking part in a structured defined social hierarchy. We need to actively pursue a system that benefits us all –

“Some people think that ruling over one’s neighbors like a master involves one of the greatest injustices, and that rule of a statesman, though it involves no injustice, does involve impediment to one’s own well-being. Others think almost the opposite, they say that an active political life is the only one for a man, since the actions expressing each of the virtues are no more available to private individuals than to those engaged in communal affairs and politics.”

And in pursuing and engaging in a system of government we establish a system fair to the individual, who takes part, and to society as a whole as the whole of society participates in that system.

Aristotle goes on to say -

"Hence, in the case of political office too, where it has been established on the basis of equality and similarity among the citizens, they think it right to take turns at ruling. In the past, as is natural, they thought it right to perform public service when their turn came, and then have someone look to their good, just as they had earlier looked to his benefit when they were in office"

I've read that over a few times in my life and taken that to mean that you participate in government long enough to do your civic duty but then have the sense to leave, it reads to me like political jury duty. You govern people well in the hope that you, being a shining example, will encourage others to rule benignly.

The only vested interest is to make sure you don't treat people so badly that they want to do the same to you when they come to power.

As i look round Europe recently i don't see much evidence of this anymore, especially not since the three terms of Margaret Thatchers government. A government that sought only to cut taxes, sell off council houses and crush the power of the unions.

Emboldened by "Reaganomics" this Government sought only to reduce the welfare state, cut services and open the remaining services to the private sector.

So one part of society flourishes as others wither and atrophy.

Unemployment in 1979 was under 2 million by 1993 it was 3 million adults in the UK.

Voter turnouts for a general election 1979 local election turnout was 76%, by 1993 when Thatcher's government was ousted that had fallen to 37.2%.

Think about that for a moment, at a local level voter turnout falls by nearly 40%... People no longer want to participate in what they see as a closed off elitist system

What we have now is the beginning of a vested interest political class that don't want to leave office. That's bad for a number of reasons.

Voter participation goes down.
One section in society sees their values and philosophy imposed on the rest of society.
Sections of society are no longer represented.
Mass protests and societal disorder.

" Nowadays, however, because of the profits to be had from public funds and office, people want to be in office continuously, as if they were sick and would be cured by being in office. ”

A telling statement that could have been written today, it wasn't, its 2000 years old...

Where are we now?

Greece in financial meltdown, the UK looking to break away from Europe, perhaps destabilising the EU and putting us at risk of conflict with an emboldened Russia. Trump saber rattling with the North Koreans, hoping China chooses to turn against North Korea, corruption at the heart of government, look at Westminster and the MP expenses scandal, the rise of the alt right and alternative facts and a left more interested in engaging in fractious debate within themselves

Whats the answer?

"In the case of political office...they think it right to take turns at ruling. In the past, as is natural, they thought it right to perform public service when their turn came, and then have someone look to their good, just as they had earlier looked for his benefit when they were in office"

Altruism, in a societal expression, we rule well because we rule temporarily.

No embedded political class as its carried out like jury duty, we don't get time to get comfortable or greedy.

Above all get out and participate, even if that's just voting. Wars were fought to secure those rights.

Thankfully the French seen sense and voted, not for a scary right wing maniac, but a consensus building centrist who doesn't believe that your skin colour defines you and that we can build a better world.

We are at a crossroads and what we do now dictates life for future generations, whether we build a bright and shining future...

or a dark and bitter one.