Japan and Europe toward the exit from history

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Japan and Europe seem to share a common destiny. One time, during the Cold War, they were both geopolitical cornerstones of the United States, now economic setbacks are pushing them on a declining trajectory. To regain ground, Tokyo and Brussels have no option but to look at Beijing’s wealth: not a good perspective for US President Barack Obama and his plans for the South China Sea and Maghreb-Mashreq.

A sovereign debt to cut down. A lingering economic slowdown sliding toward recession. A demographic depression that make increasingly unmanageable their national welfare system. And, accordingly, a foreign policy that does not bite. Japan and Europe (European Union - EU) have a great deal in common and seem to be running parallel to their "exit from history". At least as regards their supposed role as great powers.

Up until 1991, the Land of the Rising Sun and the Old Continent were the United States' bulwarks at the eastern and western rims of Eurasia’s landmass: the first line of containment against the Soviet Union along the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Now, despite the diplomatic acrobatics staged by US officials, the status of Japan and Europe as cornerstones - in their respective regions - of the American security system is questioned.

Washington's confidence in Tokyo is at an all-time low. Not least of all, this is due to the Japanese political instability (with premiers changing nearly every year since 2006), the age-old dispute on the relocation of the American air base of Futenma on Okinawa and the wavering attitude of the Japanese government about adhering to the negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (the TPP is a project of free trade association that involves nine Pacific countries, including the US, whose broad outlines were agreed last November 12, on the fringe of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hawaii).

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/MK15Dj03.html

Author: http://www.eurasiareview.com/author/emanuele-scimia/

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[Art_from_Ark]

2. Who wrote this article?

Francis Fukuyama?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_History_and_the_Last_Man

[bemildred]

3. There is a link at the bottom of the OP to an Author blurb.

I suggest reading it.