Reference News Network, December 31 report: The U.S. "Wall Street Journal" website published an article titled "Has the West Come to an End?" on December 26, written by David Lune. Excerpts are as follows:

Since the end of World War II, the Western alliance formed by the United States and its European partners has been a vital pillar of the global order. However, many European leaders are now raising the question: has this alliance reached its end?

German Chancellor Merkel recently said at a meeting with business leaders in Berlin: "The so-called 'normative West' no longer exists."

The transatlantic relationship has entered a cold winter, and many people fear that the rift will never be healed, at least not restored to its former state. Merkel and some European country leaders say they have come to deeply realize a reality: at least this U.S. administration no longer views Europe as a key partner in international affairs. The White House's hostility toward the European continent is deepening.

Part of the reason for this shift is the fundamental differences between the two sides on the core meaning of the "West" and which side on either side of the Atlantic can better defend Western core values. Many officials in the Trump administration believe that Europe's tolerance of immigration undermines the historical foundations of this region, which is predominantly white and Christian, and constitutes a betrayal of Western civilization. They also claim that the European elite's push for a diversity agenda, to some extent, is limiting freedom of speech and political freedom.

European leaders do not agree with these views. They believe that it is the United States that has abandoned Western values.

From February this year, the United States launched a full-scale attack on Europe, starting with Vice President Pence openly criticizing traditional U.S. allies, followed by tariffs imposed on European goods. However, a series of events in the past few weeks have further intensified the confrontation between the two sides. First, the U.S. and Russian negotiating representatives jointly drafted a "28-point peace plan" for the war in Ukraine, which most European countries see as heavily favoring Russia.

Subsequently, in early December, the United States released the latest version of its National Security Strategy. This regularly published foreign policy guidance document was, in the eyes of many Europeans, nothing more than a declaration of separation. The report harshly criticized European countries for having "democratic flaws," accusing these countries' immigration policies could lead to a demographic structure in Europe where non-Europeans become the majority. The implication of this "civilization erasure" is that immigrants and their descendants cannot truly integrate into Europe or embrace Western values. Moreover, the report openly questioned whether these countries could continue to be "reliable allies."

In the United States, there are still many people who firmly defend the Western alliance. Although the political priorities of the U.S. and Europe can no longer be as aligned as they were for decades after the war, a change in the U.S. president might bring about a turnaround in bilateral relations. From popular culture to core political values, the U.S. and European peoples still maintain deep emotional ties, and both sides view each other as important strongholds for safeguarding democratic systems.

But some things have already broken. British historian Tony Judt lamented: "We can no longer believe that the United States will always stand with us."

George Vareltzakis, author of the book "The West: A History of an Idea," pointed out that the definition of "the West" has long been questioned, discussed, and revised. He said that after decades of social changes in the U.S. and Europe, one thing is clear: "It is now outdated to define the West as a white and Christian civilization."

Many European scholars believe that the Trump administration has transferred the cultural wars within the United States to European society. These cultural wars stem from the anxiety of American conservatives about the rapid changes in the country's population structure and the increasing ethnic diversity. Bulgarian political thinker Ivan Krastev said: "The United States once escaped the old continent of closure and cultural uniformity to become a new continent. Now, the old continent is becoming increasingly diverse, which makes the United States feel betrayed."

However, many Europeans also agree with some of the criticisms the U.S. has made against Europe, especially on issues such as sluggish economic growth, excessive regulation, over-reliance on the U.S. for security, and poor management of immigration that has caused voter dissatisfaction.

French former diplomat Jérôme Gauthier said: "Europe must take bolder initiatives in all areas, including innovation and economic policy. If we continue to rely on the U.S. in technology, markets, and security, we will eventually become vassals, constantly humiliated."

Laurel Miller, Director of the North America Program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, said: "The transatlantic relationship based on values seems to have reached its end." (Translation by Wang Dongdong)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7589928920112202292/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.