The Brexit confirmed fears that the long-term global instability will generate further uncertainty and result in unmanageable situations. The shared belief is that with their vote in the referendum, the British have opened the floodgates.
A domino of similar secessionist movements and threat of nationalist and protectionist beliefs prevailing – not just in Europe, but worldwide – is feared.
The United Kingdom is now faced with the prospect of Scotland and Northern Ireland succeeding and even Gibraltar may once again be a source of tension with Spain.
Similarly, the situation in France is fragile, as there is no shortage of people who believe that if the same question was posed there, about 60% of the French would also vote to leave the EU.
In Germany, the leading country in the Eurozone, the shock is huge. Merkel and Schauble sense the rift and pressure from the emergent nationalist party called “Alternative for Germany” and are aware that among others, they will have to face waves of anti-germanic sentiments, as well as accusations on the liabilities stemming from their obsessive inflexibility and economic unilateralism.
As such, Scandinavian suspicion and the arrogance of the Dutch will be reinforced. This in tern will also help fuel internal conflicts and separatism in Spain and France.
Another critical parameter is the emergence of leaders with an anti-systemic rhetoric, which may further intensify the climate of uncertainty and disarray.
A possible election of Donald Trump in the USA in November could precisely meant the end of the world as we know it after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
It is no coincidence that Obama and Hillary Clinton are deeply concerned. The American leadership pressured Britain to remain in the European Union as much as it could.
In these troubled time President Obama wanted Britain to remain in the EU so that the European front is united.
Now he is forced to support Britain, the first and historic ally of the USA, while pressuring Germany and France to assume greater responsibilities, if they truly want to maintain European structure.
In any case Greece is part of this international complication.
The country depends on Europe, still has a lot of unfinished business with its economy and the leadership has a duty, if anything, to be sober and careful. This is not time for any superiority complexes or untimely claims.
Let us not forget that in Athens the separatist wave may be focused on austerity policies and the consequential widening of inequalitiesm, but it was fueld by the refugee crisis and attained a nationalist aspect. It is maintained, it will fuel the far right and bring back fascism.
Antonis Karakousis
Originally published in the Sunday print edition
