Liverpool….an example to Europe

The basis of my argument was the challenges that Europe has to face in the immediate future and beyond. The decisions the birthplace of democracy must make if it is to survive in the new world.

This is no longer a world of nations and boarders.

When Rumsfeld spoke of Old Europe he was right. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the development of societies such as India the world is changing. No longer can developed Western democracies rely on their sophistication to support their expensive social states, no longer can their citizens under perform.

Over the last two decades the world changed gear. And Europe? She stalled.

We have been excluded from the changes in the global economy, squandering our privileged position with internal squabbles and foolishly entertaining expensive dreams of a European Utopia, a Utopia of high productivity and social provisions.

The European project became sidelined; as the constituent countries of Europe were busy building their social infrastructure they allowed ethical concerns to stifle their productivity. As we saw with the Lisbon Strategy; Europe had to catch up, to catch up fast. But Europe is devoid of the one thing it needs, the one thing Liverpool had last night: Leadership.

Liverpool had indeed too become sidelined and uncompetitive. Enforced exile from the European stage had led to a divide between its performances and those of the continent’s best. Liverpool was un-fancied and weak going into the tournament, a has-been that was more of a joke than a threat.

Liverpool had to work hard to get to the final; it had to be uncompromising and rarely attractive. Liverpool played to its strengths and stifled its competitors, fighting on Liverpool’s terms. Rafa Benitez knew that the Milan game was all but lost, but he did not allow his players to admit defeat. They emerged resilient, determined, and energised.

AC Milan expected to comfortably see the game out, to coast to their next European Cup. Liverpool took Milan by surprise and asked questions to which they had no answers. Gerard’s belief and the attitude of players such as Jamie Carragher ensured that Liverpool had a chance, and they took their chances.

Europe is 3-0 down. Europe’s economies are being strangled by an inconsistent, myopic, and counter-productive leadership that bickers among itself while other economies – streamlined and lithe – race ahead. Europe is struggling to unite and decide on its direction, a continent obsessed with its glorious past, unable to face up to the difficult challenges ahead.

What Europe needs is the next generation of Leaders. Leaders ready to challenge the status quo, prepared to look abroad and reform at home. Leaders prepared to destroy in order to rebuild.

The constitution will go someway to unite Europe, and the economic mechanisms within the agreement will make the Union more competitive. The accord will go someway to give Europe a single united voice. Maybe then we will forget our cultural differences and complexities, and face up to the fact that social provisions have to be financed.

Maybe then Europe can compete a la Liverpool.