Change comes to Europe. It'll be decades before we understand what it means.
It's been quite a week in Europe: Switzerland has edged away from its longstanding tradition of neutrality. Finland is on the cusp of asking for admission into the alliance after decades of standing to the side. Germany, after a nearly 80-year break from militarism, is suddenly beefing up its defense budget and sending arms to Ukraine.
The rule of physics applies: For every action, there's a reaction.
So it's natural that Vladimir Putin's decision to wage war on Ukraine has produced a massive series of reactions across the rest of Europe. But we might take a moment to contemplate the unintended consequences of all these changes, especially when they come so quickly and with so little debate.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
At National Review, Michael Brendan Dougherty on Monday pointed out that neutrality for countries like Finland and Switzerland had benefits to those countries — and to the world at large. "Neutrality was for some of these nations a necessary condition for their independence, for their freedom from the rivalries among cousins that could send this duchy or that province into devastating conflict with one another," he wrote. (That was certainly true of Finland, which shares an 830-mile border with Russia, and wanted to avoid another conflict with its neighbor.) He added: "Neutral states also offered, before the advent of bodies like the U.N., 'safe spaces' for various dissidents or even negotiations for the larger powers."
Likewise, we all know the reasons for Germany's deep-seated reluctance to build up its military: The country is still grappling with its sins from World War II — a process that may never end, and maybe shouldn't. Laying off the arms race was an understandable way to deal with its guilt, and perhaps to prevent a relapse. "German pacifism is a real thing, and it pulsates through German society," the Atlantic Council's Rachel Rizzo wrote this week. "Throughout the years, there hasn't ever been broad public support for a more robust defense posture." Now there's a crack in that wall.
This isn't to say that Finland will suddenly find itself at war with Russia, or that German militarism will automatically create new problems with the continent. We don't really know, and history doesn't always repeat itself. But the pre-Ukraine order in Europe didn't come about by accident — there were reasons why things were the way they were. There may be good reasons for that order to change; we may yet come to find that the old reasons still have meaning in this strange and scary new world.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.
-
Saint Paul de Vence: a paradise for art lovers
The Week Recommends The hilltop gem in the French Riviera where 20th century modernism flourished
By Alexandra Zagalsky Published
-
'People in general want workers to earn a decent living'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What might a Trump victory mean for the global economy?
Today's Big Question A second term in office for the 'America First' administration would send shockwaves far beyond the United States' shores
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
What happens if Russia declares war on Nato?
Today's Big Question Fears are growing after Vladimir Putin's 'unusually specific warning' to Western governments
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Iran and Israel: is all-out war inevitable?
Talking Points Tehran has vowed revenge for assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, but Gaza ceasefire could offer way out
By The Week UK Published
-
Are Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets too little too late?
Today's Big Question US-made aircraft are 'significant improvement' on Soviet-era weaponry but long delay and lack of trained pilots could undo advantage against Russia
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine's stolen children
Under the Radar Officially 20,000 children have been detained since Russia's invasion in 2022, but the true number is likely to be far higher
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
A brief timeline of Russia's war in Ukraine
In Depth How the Kremlin's plan for a quick conquest turned into a quagmire
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why is Ukraine backing far-right militias in Russia?
Today's Big Question The role of the fighters is a 'double-edged sword' for Kyiv, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
What does victory now look like for Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Not losing is as important as winning as the tide turns in Russia's favour again
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Grant Shapps goes to war on military's 'woke' diversity policies
Talking Point Defence secretary condemns 'extremist culture' as Army reportedly plans to relax security checks on overseas recruits
By The Week UK Published