Krugman has a long conversation with Adam Tooze about the challenges and strengths that Europe has, especially relative to the United States. One thing that struck me - there's a LOT there - is the idea of the NSS that basically divides the world into Great Power spheres of influence. That's how I read it, with Trumpist nostalgia for the 19th century reducing the world to this old idea of regional hegemons: the US in the Americas, Russia in Europe and China in Asia.
What was striking to many was the racist and antagonistic language that the NSS used to describe Europe. Tooze points out that this is really just an extension of MAGA's culture war ethos. We know how moony-eyed Trumpists get when talking about Hungary and Orban; that sort of competitive authoritarianism is their goal for America. Orban also fits into that Culture Warrior model, as much of his appeal is his anti-immigrant - really anti-Islamic - focus in European politics.
For the MAGAts, Europe is just Woke America with funny accents. I would argue that this is part of the overall lack of curiosity about the world that typifies a certain type of arrogant ignorance. What's fascinating about the Europe v US debate is how both sides of the Atlantic have such different priorities, yet they are fundamentally wealthy and successful societies. If you're from Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia or Latin America, you would want to live in the US or Europe, but if you're from the US or Europe, you'd probably only want to live in either of those places. This isn't to say either place doesn't face significant problems, rather that they are very much First World Problems.
To denigrate Europe - as the MAGAts do - is exactly the same as denigrating New York, Chicago or San Francisco. The same as hating Berkeley, Cambridge or Austin.
Mark Twain said "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness." MAGA is service to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.
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