TWICE THE SIZE - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of Technology

world leader in software solutions and biotechnology, paving the way for future medical and
scientific breakthroughs.
Successive waves of enlargement continued EU expansion eastwards, offering a wealth of new
business opportunities, each providing cheap and well-educated workforces, and stepping-stones
to larger markets to the East. In 2017, Switzerland, Norway and the Ukraine gained
membership, to be followed in 2021 by Turkey. This last period of enlargement was based on
the concept of a free trade multi-speed Europe where different coalitions of member states
have been able to pursue different initiatives at their own pace. Turkey, with one of the fastest
growing economies in the world during the 2020’s, as well as a dynamic youthful population,
was able to cushion the pension crisis across an otherwise mostly ageing continent. In addition,
Turkey’s geographical location, culture and religion have made it a bridge to the wider Muslim
world.
During the period 2010 to 2020, Europe managed to break away from the tradition, long-held in
many countries, of extravagant social expenditure and strong public intervention. It was the
development of the world economy, in general, and the success of President Hilary Clinton
during her second term in modernising supposedly untouchable sectors such as health, education
and social assistance, in particular, that swept away Europe’s uncertainties. The principles and
practices of the New Democratic Party in the US quickly spread to Europe, favouring
entrepreneurship, innovation and individual responsibility.
Overall, the European economies have emerged well from the vagaries of the first part of the
21 st Century – more competitive and more flexible. There has been rapid growth in small
businesses and increasing openness to world markets. Indeed, the whole European economy has
been reorganised in a more mutable manner, in line with technological innovation and the
concentration on higher added value sectors.
Economic change, however, gives rise for social concern. European societies are more
fragmented than ever; individualism and relativism are dominant; and consumerism is overridingly
the big idea. Europeans are now limiting their desire for solidarity to their immediate
entourage, particularly their family. And generally, the public distrusts collective action,
especially by governments and public service.
IRELAND
Always popular for its picturesque scenery and its unique culture, Ireland, that small island at
the edge of Europe, has become a large player on the global stage, mainly through its worldclass
advances in science and technology. Although geographically Ireland is part of the
continent of Europe, and a long-standing and staunch member of the erstwhile European Union
until its virtual demise after 2020, it is proving to have more in common with its nearest
neighbour to the West – the United States of America.
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