Europe’s Powerlessness in the Middle East

Russia’s launching of bombing of opposition targets in Syria on the 30 September 2015 is a brutal reminder of the decline of Western influence in the Middle East and North Africa. Other examples of this decline can be seen in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan.

The European Union’s 28 member states are now collectively faced with three unpalatable truths that expose Europe’s appalling lack of strategy, foresight, and understanding of crisis management.

The first is Europe’s — but also the United States’ — inability to do state building. The second is the questionable impact of hard power. The third is the fallout of wars: millions of refugees on the move, fleeing the areas of conflict.

It is questionable, however, whether Europe’s helplessness in the Middle East and its struggle to cope with refugees will make EU governments consider the miserable weaknesses of their foreign, security, and development aid policies.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Ten home truths on Europe's refugee crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/ten-home-truths-on-europes-refugee-crisis/

ESO: Background information: Europe’s Pathetic Lack of Foreign Policy Ambition http://www.europeansources.info/record/europes-pathetic-lack-of-foreign-policy-ambition/

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