What happened at Lisbon? Who cares, most Czechs say
'All politics are local.' That's what former Hoopa Valley Tribe Chairman Duane Sherman told me once, after he lost the leadership position to Clifford Lyle Marshall.
Halfway around the world and half a decade later, that admonition still rings true. And you thought it was only Americans who don't give a damn about politics. This past week European Union leaders in Lisbon signed what the BBC called a 'landmark treaty.' EU leaders themselves have called the treaty, which is supposed to be a replacement for last year's failed EU draft constitution, the dawn of 'a new Europe.'
Well, ... I ran the story by a group of students at an international shipping firm this week.
Response? They didn't know anything about it.
'Was it reported much in the Czech media?' I asked.
Heads shake. Eyes nervously check watches. Nope, we've still got another fifty minutes of class.
'I think the media here is only interested in tabloid news,' says Jana, who is in her early twenties.
Hard to argue with that. Most Czechs probably know the name of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's mistress better than they know the name of the current European Commission president (Jose Manuel Barroso, of Spain, the presidency rotates every six months).
Essentially, the treaty creates for the 27-nation bloc a long-term president and streamlines its decision-making process. It also changes the way the bloc is run, with member states surrendering more powers to centralized rule in Brussels after years of resisting encroachment on their sovereign powers. The intention is to enable a swifter response to global issues.
The EU itself is a sticky subject with incumbent Czech President Vaclav Klaus, member of the conservative Civic Democrat Party (ODS) and notedly outspoken 'euro-skeptic.' Last year he made a tour of the United States, making speeches about how the union infringes upon personal and economic freedom. In September Klaus also made a speech at the U.N. in which he reiterated his belief that man-made global warming, as Al Gore sees it, is a 'myth' that also aims to curb freedom (I have a feeling Klaus and Roger Rodoni would get along well).
Czechs, who joined the EU in 2004, have historic reasons for being wary about trusting foreign sovereigns. The country spent the past few hundred years under outside rule(first the Austria-Hungary Empire until the first World War; then the Nazis from 1938-1945, and the Communists until the 1989 revolution).
However, recent developments in Russia have some conceding it might be time to at least consider the idea of a stronger, united Europe. With Vladamir Putin and his United Russia Party scoring big victories in the recent elections, combined with the country's vast energy resources, Russia is definitely back on the big stage. Russia also is the major energy supplier to Europe. Some fear that the newly empowered Russia will use its energy as a weapon to force its agenda, and is relying on Europe to remain split, since it's easier to deal with 27 independent states than a single, united force.
For other Czechs, however, it's an uncomfortable subject -- difficult to get your arms around, and the long-term ramifications too uncertain to ponder.
'I don't like talking about Russia,' says Helena, who also works at the shipping company. 'Every time I see Putin in the news I --' she shudders.
'James, Russia is Russia,' says her colleague Ondrej. 'They will always do what they want.'
'But see how this all ties in to the EU treaty?' I said, to keep it going. 'With Czechs, you are only 10 million people. With Europe, it's several hundred million. A much stronger negotiating position.'
'Maybe.'
All 27 states must ratify the treaty. Ireland is set to vote on it soon. According to news reports, the Irish are either undecided or indifferent. Same with Czechs, or so my students tell me.
Why? A big part of it is distrust -- the United States of Europe, if you will, doesn't go down easy, especially with those down on Bush and the War, on McWorld, the Empire, etc. But a bigger part I would say is, well, lack of awareness. My guess is five out of every 10 Czechs (and Europeans in general) are busy, like Americans, with work, holidays, relationships. They don't know, and could care less, about the 'big deals' in Lisbon, or Brussels.
Say it again, Duane. Or I'll say it for you. All politics are local.
The troubling, or enlightening thing though, is that the world is getting more and more local every day.