The war in Ukraine laid bare the truth that Europe is not unified. Indeed, all the countries of the European Union unanimously condemned Russia’s attack and are jointly sanctioning the aggressor, but in practice, each of them is carrying out their own eastern policy.

The differences among them are typical when it comes to their position on Ukraine’s initiative to join the EU. When Poland opts for the acceleration of the accession procedure, the Netherlands oppose it.

This state of affairs consists of many factors. We can point to the discrepancy in economic interests and in relations with Russia which divide particular members of the Union. The subject of German-Russian energy cooperation, ie. both Nord Streams, has been worn out in the Polish public discussion. Whereas France, who sold weapons to Russia despite an EU embargo, is fresh news.

Placing your own economic gain above the interests of the EU is not everything however. Geographic location and historical experience must also be taken into account. From the Polish perspective, Russia is a dangerous neighbor, and today Ukraine is fighting for its independence, like the Second Polish Republic did against the Bolshevik onslaught in 1920. The Germans, French or the Danes cannot comprehend this.

”Wyborcza’s” capitulation

However, the most important matter is the identity of modern Europeans. Last week, newspaper “Gazeta Wyborcza” ran a conversation with psychologist Paweł Droździak, who – in reference to the war in Ukraine – praised patriotism, understood as defense of the homeland. Before he did this though, the journalist conducting the interview declared that, until recently, the attitude of Ukrainians dying for their country “we could have called… fascism, nationalist” and she concluded: “Today we shed tears over their heroism.”

This is a certain kind of retreat by “Wyborcza”. Many times columns appeared on its pages that led one to conclude that nations – in the meaning once conferred upon them – constitute an anachronistic phenomenon.

In any case, Droździak’s words are typical: “Until recently, the mainstream media assured us that patriotism means cleaning up dog poop, paying taxes where you live and not burning garbage in your stove. Every other possibility was laughed at. Of course it’s not true. Cleaning up after a dog, not burning garbage and not dumping garbage in the forest, are very good things, but they are simply manifestations of culture. Good upbringing. But it isn’t patriotism.”

The psychologist continued: “After all, when we are in the Czech Republic, we also don’t burn bags in the stove nor do we throw garbage into the forest. Neither in Russia nor in Mozambique. Does it mean that we are Czech, Russian or Mozambican patriots? Elementary concepts were deconstructed to an absurd level for fear of their darker side. And with patriotism, thus the idea of the state as something different from other states, something concrete, is tied to a mass of positive feelings.”

In the eyes of Poles raised by the media that frightens them with the “demons” of Polish nationalism, information like this is a shock. You just want to cry out: ‘hell froze over!’

Ukraine, trendsetter

After all, until recently you could hear or read that the idea of national sovereignty and national pride were relics of the past in an integrating Europe and a globalizing world, which could only manifest themselves as something violent and xenophobic. Current events in Ukraine reveal the flimsiness of this argument.

In extremely dramatic circumstances the Ukrainians are growing stronger in the conviction that – despite the propaganda of the Kremlin and the Moscow Patriarchate – they are a nation. Without a strong sense of national identity, the Ukrainians would not have the spirit to stand up to the Russian invaders.

From another point of view, their attitude contrasts with how Dutch soldiers behaved in Srebrenica in 1995. The Netherlander battalion of the UN peacekeeping forces was then supposed to guarantee the security of Bosnian Muslims threatened by Serb fighters. Meanwhile, at the critical moment, they withdrew without firing a shot. The Serbs carried out the crime of genocide – they murdered 8,000 civilians. In 2005, the International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia decreed that the Dutch bore the blame for the death of 300 people, since they denied them shelter.

Why did they behave this way? Did cultural reasons also stand behind it? Here is a nation whose calling cards are the achievements of “progress”: the right to euthanasia and “soft” drugs or same-sex “marriages.” Is this joyously decadent society ready to fight for something more than the fulfillment of individual, consumptive needs?

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, demonstrates great caution towards the war in Ukraine. This is understandable – he does not want the conflict to expand into neighboring countries.

Therefore, the Netherlands can take pride in the prudence of their political elites, their wealth and past reputation. But it is not enough to be a trendsetter in Europe when Russian soldiers are doing what the Serbs were in Srebrenica. Today, the Old Continent is Ukraine’s representative. It points the way forward and determines her future.

– Filip Memches
–Translated by Nicolas Siekierski