Europe could be counterweight to global wave of nationalism

Washington

EUROPE has a decision to make. It can stand by as nationalism and authoritarianism flourish from the United States (with Donald Trump's "America First" approach) to China (which is moving from a single-party system to a single-leader regime), or it can lead a reinvigoration of democratic values and international cooperation at a time when rapid technology-driven change demands major political, economic and social reforms.

Some view the rise of populism - mostly of the right-wing variety - in the European Union (EU) as a sign that, far from being ready to play a leadership role, the EU may be disintegrating. But the EU's situation is much more complicated than the pessimists make it out to be - and not nearly as bleak.