Directory of Lost Causes

I've just come across this excellent review of three books all on the subject of cross-Atlantic politics. I'm afraid it's already three years old, but its content is still very relevant. I'm not sure what I'd call my forte, but political analysis is not it, therefore I don't think I can hope to better the analysis on offer in this review, and I would urge people to read it, if they have a moment.

There is much talk, in the review, of Britain's halfway position between Europe and the United States. I must say, I'm not sure that our position is exactly halfway. We seem to be closer to the US than maps generally indicate. I would prefer we were closer to Europe. American hostility to 'welfare' (and yes, I do encounter it) never ceases to amaze me. When I come across it, I know I have stumbled upon something forged in a very different cultural crucible than the one that forged me*.



When I see this kind of thing, however, I tend to find it rather ironic. Well, I know that in the case of Al Murray, the comedy is meant to be ironic, but that's not exactly what I mean. There still is, in Britain, an obsession with America, and it's telling that, as far as such things can be ascertained, it seems that Britain is the most American of all European countries. We insist on our difference to Europe (or the rest of Europe) and we insist on our difference to America, but of what is our difference to Europe comprised if not of that fact that we are more American? Which then begs the question, of what is our alleged difference to America comprised, and why are we so proud as to insist on it? Of course, it's perfectly allowable for Britain to be more or other than the sum of the two theoretical parts Europe + America, but in many ways it appears that we're less, having not the wealth and drive of America and not the social benefits of Europe. If we can't point to what is both good and different about Britain, I would suggest that we are 'protesting too much' when we attack America from a specifically 'British' perspective. We wish to differentiate ourselves because we know how much we have already ignobly lost. Moreover, rather than then try to differentiate ourselves from Europe, it might be more to our advantage to nurture what little we have left in common with Europe.

Of course, if I were to point to the things that I think are good and different about Britain, they would be things that no one gave a toss about anyway - especially not the British - so I won't bother.



*I suppose this indicates some sort of paradox in what I've written, but life's like that.