Uncouth Nation:Why Europe Dislikes America

Politics International Politics
1

A book review from Princeton University press:

[quote]Uncouth Nation:Why Europe Dislikes America
Andrei S. Markovits

No survey can capture the breadth and depth of the anti-Americanism that has swept Europe in recent years. From ultraconservative Bavarian grandmothers to thirty-year-old socialist activists in Greece, from globalization opponents to corporate executives–Europeans are joining in an ever louder chorus of disdain for America. For the first time, anti-Americanism has become a European lingua franca.

In this sweeping and provocative look at the history of European aversion to America, Andrei Markovits argues that understanding the ubiquity of anti-Americanism since September 11, 2001, requires an appreciation of such sentiments among European elites going back at least to July 4, 1776.

While George W. Bush’s policies have catapulted anti-Americanism into overdrive, particularly in Western Europe, Markovits argues that this loathing has long been driven not by what America does, but by what it is. Focusing on seven Western European countries big and small, he shows how antipathies toward things American embrace aspects of everyday life–such as sports, language, work, education, media, health, and law–that remain far from the purview of the Bush administration’s policies. Aggravating Europeans’ antipathies toward America is their alleged helplessness in the face of an Americanization that they view as inexorably befalling them.

More troubling, Markovits argues, is that this anti-Americanism has cultivated a new strain of anti-Semitism. Above all, he shows that while Europeans are far apart in terms of their everyday lives and shared experiences, their not being American provides them with a powerful common identity–one that elites have already begun to harness in their quest to construct a unified Europe to rival America.

Andrei S. Markovits is Karl W. Deutsch Collegiate Professor of Comparative Politics and German Studies at the University of Michigan. He is the author of six books, including The German Predicament and, most recently, Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism (Princeton).
press.princeton.edu/titles/8238.html[/quote]
The book:
Table of Contents:

Foreword vii
Preface xi
Introduction 1
Chapter 1: Anti-Americanism as a European Lingua Franca 11
Chapter 2: European Anti-Americanism: A Brief Historical Overview 38
Chapter 3: The Perceived “Americanization” of All Aspects of European Lives: A Discourse of Irritation and Condescension 81
Chapter 4: The Massive Waning of America’s Image in the Eyes of Europe and the World 135
Chapter 5: “Twin Brothers”: European Anti-Semitism and Anti-Americanism 150
Chapter 6: Anti-Americanism: A Necessary and Welcomed Spark to Jump-start a European Identity? 201
Notes 225
Index 265

Imteresting the connection the author makes to Anti-Americanism and the wave of Anti-Semiticism in Europe.

2

But we don’t dislike America, just Bush. That doesn’t make us anti-American, just anti-Bush. I wish people wouldn’t accuse of being things we’re not, it’s quite offensive to be accused of hating things.

3

I think if I was brought up in America, I might believe that excuse too. I’d certainly want to. :wink:

I remember after 9/11 an American news channel did this great report called ‘Why do people hate America?’. One lady, from the Middle East, I believe, said that it’s because America doesn’t seem to listen to what others have to say - that they ignore the opinions of others.

The anchor simply replied, ‘Well that’s just not true.’

Case closed. :wink:

4

Big Fluffy -
We all know you love everybody…you just can’t help it!

5

Its more a dislike of American foreign policy and that fact that ‘Americanism’ or popular American culture is replacing many local cultures.

Oh…and its not just Europe…

On another note, during the Clinton era, I was rather pro-America and Australia looked up to the U.S. much more as a responsible bigger brother.

6

Never quite understand this line that everyone (and every country) hates the USA, cause if they did would not other countries do something about the USA or at least gang up on America?

In truth they don’t hate the USA… but at the same time they like to vent their own frustrations

Yes countries resent the USA, France included, but it is not because they disagree with what the USA does, but how they do it and the fact that this countries are not in a position to counter the USA

In addition many European countries were in the past empires with colonies, so there is a certain amount of jealousy that the USA appears to be the one calling the shots.

Guess in a way it is difficult to be expected to be responsible for always doing the right thing, and to be targeted as the cause when things don’t work out

7

[quote=“TNT”]Never quite understand this line that everyone (and every country) hates the USA, cause if they did would not other countries do something about the USA or at least gang up on America?

In truth they don’t hate the USA… but at the same time they like to vent their own frustrations

Yes countries resent the USA, France included, but it is not because they disagree with what the USA does, but how they do it and the fact that this countries are not in a position to counter the USA
In addition many European countries were in the past empires with colonies, so there is a certain amount of jealousy that the USA appears to be the one calling the shots.
Guess in a way it is difficult to be expected to be responsible for always doing the right thing, and to be targeted as the cause when things don’t work out[/quote]

I must admit all of the above probably right even if unconscious

And the lie about WMD in Irak is not going to help

8

[quote=“SHARLEE”][quote=“TNT”]Never quite understand this line that everyone (and every country) hates the USA, cause if they did would not other countries do something about the USA or at least gang up on America?

In truth they don’t hate the USA… but at the same time they like to vent their own frustrations

Yes countries resent the USA, France included, but it is not because they disagree with what the USA does, but how they do it and the fact that this countries are not in a position to counter the USA
In addition many European countries were in the past empires with colonies, so there is a certain amount of jealousy that the USA appears to be the one calling the shots.
Guess in a way it is difficult to be expected to be responsible for always doing the right thing, and to be targeted as the cause when things don’t work out[/quote]

I must admit all of the above probably right even if unconscious

And the lie about WMD in Irak is not going to help[/quote]

I guess in the context of my point that the alleged lie should have only created disappointment (maybe distrust) but not hatred, so the root cause lies somewhere else. Maybe that root cause was always there for a long time, only repressed by the times (WW2 and the Cold War)

9

Fabricating a reason for invading a country, killing a large number of the population and occupying soldiers, hanging its leader, and causing greater instability on an already volatile region is likely to cause more hatred than distrust, methinks.

10

[quote=“TNT”][quote=“SHARLEE”][quote=“TNT”]Never quite understand this line that everyone (and every country) hates the USA, cause if they did would not other countries do something about the USA or at least gang up on America?

In truth they don’t hate the USA… but at the same time they like to vent their own frustrations

Yes countries resent the USA, France included, but it is not because they disagree with what the USA does, but how they do it and the fact that this countries are not in a position to counter the USA
In addition many European countries were in the past empires with colonies, so there is a certain amount of jealousy that the USA appears to be the one calling the shots.
Guess in a way it is difficult to be expected to be responsible for always doing the right thing, and to be targeted as the cause when things don’t work out[/quote]

I must admit all of the above probably right even if unconscious

And the lie about WMD in Irak is not going to help[/quote]

I guess in the context of my point that the alleged lie should have only created disappointment (maybe distrust) but not hatred, so the root cause lies somewhere else. Maybe that root cause was always there for a long time, only repressed by the times (WW2 and the Cold War)[/quote]

The title of this thread is not hatred but dislike. So the Iraq war and the false pretext , even if not the root of this dislike, is not going to help.

11

[quote=“SHARLEE”][quote=“TNT”][quote=“SHARLEE”][quote=“TNT”]Never quite understand this line that everyone (and every country) dislikes the USA, cause if they did would not other countries do something about the USA or at least gang up on America?

In truth they don’t dislike the USA… but at the same time they like to vent their own frustrations

Yes countries resent the USA, France included, but it is not because they disagree with what the USA does, but how they do it and the fact that this countries are not in a position to counter the USA
In addition many European countries were in the past empires with colonies, so there is a certain amount of jealousy that the USA appears to be the one calling the shots.
Guess in a way it is difficult to be expected to be responsible for always doing the right thing, and to be targeted as the cause when things don’t work out[/quote]

I must admit all of the above probably right even if unconscious

And the lie about WMD in Irak is not going to help[/quote]

I guess in the context of my point that the alleged lie should have only created disappointment (maybe distrust) but not dislike, so the root cause lies somewhere else. Maybe that root cause was always there for a long time, only repressed by the times (WW2 and the Cold War)[/quote]

The title of this thread is not hatred but dislike. So the Iraq war and the false pretext , even if not the root of this dislike, is not going to help.[/quote]

Ok sorry wrong word my bad… I replace the word hatred with dislike

12

Fabricating a reason for invading a country, killing a large number of the population and occupying soldiers, hanging its leader, and causing greater instability on an already volatile region is likely to cause more hatred than distrust, methinks.[/quote]

Lets assume they did not fabricate the reason for invading Iraq and other countries (who agreed with the assessment of Saddam as being a threat) joined with them in the invasion; and the invasion resulted in killing a large number of the population and occupying soldiers, hanging its leader, and causing greater instability on an already volatile region would there not be a greater willingness to work for sucesss and help out in securing Iraq?

13

(1) Why assume that?

(2) That’s not the point. The point is that many people dislike America for doing whatever it wants, regardless of the opinion of the majority of other countries, because it is willing to fabricate reasons to do so, and because it appears to have no regard for people’s lives in doing so.

14

LOL…one of the many reasons “people” express such a dis-like for US politics is the repeating of lies, half-truths and misleading information as fact by the various news medias and then parroting of this by toadies on the internet.
This incessant repetition of mis-information accomplishes a great deal for the anti-US wack-jobs and plays right into the hand of the media-wise manipulators of the current terrorist forces.

It looks like an interesting book. I don’t really think enough has been revealed of it here to form much of an accurate opinion. Perhaps I will find it in the future and read it.

15

[quote=“TainanCowboy”]LOL…one of the many reasons “people” express such a dis-like for US politics is the repeating of lies, half-truths and misleading information as fact by the various news medias and then parroting of this by toadies on the internet.
This incessant repetition of mis-information accomplishes a great deal for the anti-US wack-jobs and plays right into the hand of the media-wise manipulators of the current terrorist forces.

It looks like an interesting book. I don’t really think enough has been revealed of it here to form much of an accurate opinion. Perhaps I will find it in the future and read it.[/quote]

I refer my learned friend (and the above post) to the response I gave earlier. :laughing: :bravo:

16

(2) That’s not the point. The point is that many people dislike America for doing whatever it wants, regardless of the opinion of the majority of other countries, because it is willing to fabricate reasons to do so, and because it appears to have no regard for people’s lives in doing so.[/quote]

Yes that is perhaps the point. Because if countries believed of their dislike to the USA and in the belief that the USA had such a disregard for people’s lives then those countries would have done something about it together to confront the USA.

17

Then why don’t people hate China as much as or more than America? Or Saudi Arabia?

To say the source of anti-US sentiment is the US’s selfishness seems silly. EVERY country acts selfishly and in the interests of their rich & powerful upper class.

I think TC’s article points out the root cause though. It’s the Jews. Them and Hollywood.

:laughing:

18

No country has a monopoly on the “truth”. Every country lies. France is one of the most selfish countries in the world. I can see a case for widespread dislike of America if you are in one of the countries it has invaded recently, but I find it hard to understand in Europe. America has done a lot of good for Europe since the Second World War. If Europe really doesn’t like America throwing its weight around on the world stage then it could always get its shit together and form an alternative foreign policy and implement it. Europe’s great achievement as a body politic has been to ban smoking in public places and create the world’s biggest and most corrupt bureaucracy. It’s just jealousy, pure and simple. Why can’t we be big and butch like America? How come they’ve got more aircraft carriers than us? Why are we copying America whilst claiming to “hate” it? Where did our culture go? How come when we let in all these immigrants it fucks things up but works a treat in the States? Why can’t America just stay at home like we didn’t in the 19th Century?

Europe harps on about America because it’s too weak to do anything about it. Stand up to America then. I dare you.

I do personally think it has a lot to do with Bush, but criticism of America for going around blowing the crap out of the world is a bit rich coming from France, Britain, or Germany.

19

Yeah-none of the Europeans have addressed the anti-Jew thing yet.

20

I think France hates the US because of EuroDisney. We knew it would be a flop on a huge scale, but we built it right there in their backyard anyway…because we could.

bwaahahahahaha