The Idea of Europe as the Point of Encounter between Power and Freedom, Interests and Universal Values
A Consideration of Kissinger’s and Ratzinger’s Visions of Europe
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12416914 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mary Frances Mckenna (0000-0002-0793-694X, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 655-669 |
| Publication date | 2017-09-08 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | European Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1062-7987 • E-ISSN: 1474-0575 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s1062798717000199 |
| OpenAlex | W2753680104 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 3 |
The aim of this article is to contribute to thinking on pre-political foundations of secular societies. I do so through the idea of Europe. The importance of pre-political foundations relates to power and freedom, specifically how freedom truly can be freedom and not ultimately power. The paper includes two sections: Section 1 discusses Europe’s Westphalian system as the model for global international relations. Henry Kissinger’s proposal that a modern Westphalian system should be adopted by the international community, as outlined in his 2014 World Order Reflections on the Character of Nations and the Course of History , is explored and critiqued. Section 2 looks at an alternative vision of Europe as the global template which addresses many of the open issues identified in Kissinger’s proposal. Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI sees Europe as a historical and cultural idea with, as pre-political foundation, the primacy of rationality as creative reason. Ratzinger’s vision does not displace Kissinger’s; rather it informs it. Core to this discussion are freedom, power, interests and universal values, specifically how these four components interact and can be managed to produce positive constructive outcomes; ultimately these interactions relate to the pre-political foundations that orientate societies
Constructive · Environmental ethics · Epistemology · International relations · Law and economics · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Rationality · Sociology · Vision · Law · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions
| Citations per year | 0.38 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2018 - 2024 (7) |
| Highly cited | No |