Politics
Opinion / Comment: Knowledge of history is essential to understand the world in which we live | Opinion
Those who don't learn history are doomed to repeat it. It is an expression used by statesmen, including Winston Churchill, to encourage a study of history in order to better understand our complicated world.
For example, to understand China's current expansive policies in East Asia, one needs to read Henry Kissingers' founding book on China. This scholar and former Secretary of State describes the humiliations suffered by China during the European colonial occupation in the 19th century. The communist regime, which came to power in 1949, is determined to reclaim China's territories and the status of great power.
Kissinger was the first American official to meet with the chairman of the Communist Party Mao Zedong in Beijing and paved the way for President Nixons' visit to China in 1972.
If the coronavirus epidemic in China does not deepen and divert President Xi Jinpings from his quest for hegemonic hegemony in East Asia, the United States faces a major decision: will they adhere to China's desire to control international traffic in the South China Sea? And will Washington stand by and allow China to encroach on the Japanese territories of the East China Sea which also include the interests of South Korea?
In the longer term, China also has its view of the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Indonesia through which shipments go to Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam. This is a major strategic issue that Washington will need to resolve or be prepared to confront China militarily in the South China Sea.
Clearly, the US defense alliance with Japan is crucial in any decision it takes to reduce its commitments to Asia.
To understand the current tensions within the European Union, knowledge of 19th century competition between five European powers, Great Britain, France, Russia, Prussia, Austria is important. Europe almost destroyed itself in the devastating First World War, then sowed the seeds that caused World War II. Another great place to find this story is another new book, Metternich: Strategist and Visionary. This great Austrian diplomat and strategist helped restore European balance of power after the defeat of Frances Napoleon in 1815. The Congress of Vienna, which followed the Napoleonic wars, laid the foundation for European peace which lasted until 1914.
The major European powers were spared a new cycle of wars after 1945 for two main reasons:
Will of the Americas to remain involved in the security and economic development of Western Europe.
The will of French and German leaders to forge a partnership which will later become the European Union.
The withdrawal of the British will not weaken the EU as long as Paris and Berlin have close working relations. Furthermore, the action of the British will not weaken its support for NATO. And America, despite a cooling policy toward the EU, recently stepped up its military presence in Eastern Europe to warn Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A fundamental problem which the EU now faces is whether it can maintain itself as an economic union in the face of growing nationalist tendencies in France, Germany, Italy and Poland. The inability of Europeans to build an effective political structure to complement their economic success opens up the possibility that historic nationalism weakens these states when unity is essential to avoid Russian pressure to distance Europe from the states -United. It was Soviet policy before 1991 and remains a key part of Russia's foreign policy under Mr. Putin.
In the Middle East, we must appreciate the historical importance to the Arabs of a 12th century hero called Saladin. It is revered eight centuries later because its forces took back their holy city, Jerusalem, from the European crusaders who conquered Palestine and Jerusalem in 1099 and held it for almost 80 years.
Arab leaders viewed the return of Britain and France to the region after the First World War as a new European crusade and the creation of a State of Israel in 1948 as another Western incursion on their territory.
Another book, The Life and Legacy of Sultan Saladin, is relevant to understanding these influences today.
In 1952 a new Arab leader, Gamal Nasser of Egypt, emerged who many Arabs say is the new Saladin and frees them from their European masters. Nassers' success in the nationalization of the Suez Canal in 1956 and resistance to British, French and Israeli efforts to oust it strengthened his reputation across the Middle East.
But its decline began after the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, when Israel took control of Gaza and Sinai. In the 1970s, Russia, Iran, Britain and the United States intervened with forces to support their client states, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, & Saudi Arabia and Israel.
In sum, our understanding of how China, European countries and the Arab states perceive their history is essential to our response to the events affecting US foreign policy.
Donald Nuechterlein is a political scientist and author who lives near Charlottesville.
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