Timothy Snyder's Hopeful Vision for Europe

Sep 6, 2024

Timothy Snyder's Speech: 'Judenplatz 1010'

Introduction

  • Event: Speech to Europe at Judenplatz, Vienna
  • Speaker: Timothy Snyder, Professor at Yale University
  • Date: 9th May 2019
  • Theme: Europe beyond myths; a source of hope

Historical Context

  • 9th May: Significance in Israel, Moscow, Kiev, Minsk (Victory Day in WWII)
  • Robert Schuman's Declaration (1950): Europe not just for Europeans, but for global peace
  • Europe's Role: Overcoming myths; remembering Holocaust, WWII, and European project together

Myths vs. History

  • Myth: National myths prevail; innocence and rightness
  • History: Requires critical, collective memory
  • Schuman's Context: France's colonial wars post-WWII
  • Myth of Nation State: Europe as integrated nation states; an incorrect perspective

European Union's Foundation

  • Post-Colonial Shift: European powers retreat from empires
  • European Powers Transition: From empires to union for trade and power
  • Enlargement Post-1989: Integration of states post-Soviet empire

Holocaust and European Responsibility

  • Memorial at Judenplatz: For 65,000 Austrian Jews killed
  • Empire's Role in Holocaust: Attempted expansion and state destruction enabled atrocities
  • Holocaust's Causes:
    • Ecological panic
    • Dehumanization
    • State destruction

Europe's Global Role

  • Present-Day Parallels:
    • Ecological panic: Global warming denial linked to dehumanization
    • State destruction: European Union strengthens states
  • Digital Empire: Threats from new forms of dehumanization

Future Responsibilities

  • European Power: More than myths; significant global influence
  • Challenges: Ecological panic, state destruction, dehumanization
  • Call to Action: Choose history over myth; embrace Europe’s role in future global stability

Conclusion

  • Europe's Responsibility: Memory guiding future
  • European Union's Role: More powerful than myths; pivotal in global challenges
  • Hope and Future: Europeans as a source of hope for the world

Timothy Snyder emphasizes Europe's significant role in shaping both its history and its future. He urges Europeans to recognize their past realistically, embrace their responsibilities, and continue to innovate and lead in global peace efforts.