TWICE THE SIZE - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of Technology

Unfortunately, international cooperation is limited largely to the traditional domains of
defence, trade and immigration. In fact, there is a discernible movement away from the
sharing of information and power in other domains. And, whilst economic globalisation
continues with growing international investment, it is constrained by the protection of national
monopolies in such key sectors as infrastructure, utilities and media. Framework treaties that
are agreed, furthermore, are constructed in a way that allows for a considerable degree of
flexibility to assert national interests.
In this world of ‘Celtic Fragility’ the habitual reliance on technology has not been sufficient to
solve longer-term problems of either environmental or social health. Globalisation and
liberalisation of markets, along with the pressures of rapid urbanisation, have raised the degree
of social inequity and unrest to a level that threatens the basic survival of both human and
environmental ecosystems.
Europe
For Europe, this is a “turbulent and insecure world” which has predominantly been shaped by
long periods of global economic instability, technological development and international
competition. Forty years after the end of the Cold War, political caprice is contagious the
world over, and there is little indication that the situation will improve in the near future.
Circumstances in Europe are particularly precarious.
The European Security Council has deployed troops on four major occasions to restore or
maintain order in its own backyard. There is also a recurring series of terrorist outrages. Safety
and security, thereby, become a preoccupation with everyone in all aspects of life.
Europeans tend to exhibit a fearful view of the world beyond their borders and an anxiety about
what the future holds for them. This siege mentality goes a long way towards explaining the
stagnation in domestic policy.
Governments have tried repeatedly to cut unemployment and social security benefits in a bid to
stimulate recruitment and reduce labour costs. As a result of international recession and
budget overshoots there have been a number of austerity measures, which have resulted in
widespread trade union unrest and violent clashes in many European cities.
In this world, economic globalisation has not brought all the benefits to Europeans promised by
its most enthusiastic prophets: monetary instability is increasing; growth still slowing; and the
rewards are unequally distributed. Twenty five years of political tension around its borders;
intractable illegal immigration pressures from the South and East; US preference for biliteralism;
the rise of Turkish nationalism; intolerance fuelled by Islamic fundamentalism; and a
lack of coherent foreign security policy, have all conspired to weaken the EU and strengthen the
role of nation states. Europeans have become accustomed to zealous law-and-order policies,
largely without protect, as they see it as an answer to the worrying situation in which they find
themselves.
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