The American-European Rift

While good diplomacy is exoteric and idealist on the surface and esoteric and interest-driven below the surface, this distinction appears to have collapsed in both the United States and the European Union. In the US interests are overtly – and it could be argued even brutally –  articulated without an exoteric surface layer. In EuropeContinue reading “The American-European Rift”

It’s Realpolitik Stupid

Diplomacy is exoteric/esoteric. Exoterically diplomacy is typically moralizing and speaking in terms of ”universal values”, i.e. notions derived from Christianity and through Christian imperialism. On the esoteric level it is all about national interests which are more value-neutral and non-moralizing. While it can be argued that certain values such as liberal democracy, secularism and evenContinue reading “It’s Realpolitik Stupid”