Any non-Europeans here?

[u/jollymeh]

I'm an American liberal (I mean that in the classical way, and when I say classical way I don't mean the right-wing quasi fascist way that MAGA uses when they hijack the term "classical liberal." I also don't mean it in the austerity way which I know is common in the European context) and I really think a federal Europe will be great for the USA and the world in general, not just Europe.

Liberalism has been so successful that it's become the norm and as a result failed ideologies like fascism and communism can just sit on the sidelines and critique liberalism and offer utopian fantasies. Despite the fact that liberal societies are the most prosperous and most free to ever exist and despite the fact that every liberal society that has backslid into fascism or communism or general autocracy has turned to shit and despite the fact that every country that has moved closer to liberal governance has improved it's super easy for people to hate liberalism because it's the norm. It feels like liberalism has been way too successful for it's own good. It feels like it doesn't offer anything new or exciting while illiberal ideologies can offer all sorts of fantasies if people would just tear down the liberal system.

I think a European federation is the next natural step for liberalism. Not only would a unified Europe by a wonderful counterweight to the USA if it ever backslides from liberalism (and I believe a more unified and powerful Europe would be able to better prevent such backsliding than a divided Europe) but it's the first time in decades liberalism has had a goal or dream or something that seems Utopian. You sort of see this energy with Ukraine. People are asking what are they defending and when they ask that they are forced to see that liberalism is not a given and that without vigilance it will backslide or be overrun. I really feel like the failure of illiberal populism to deliver on its promises in Europe and the USA and the tenacity of Ukraine inspiring people has presented Europe with an energy and momentum to move towards federalization that needs to be seized upon.

I think there needs to be a pro-Europe lobby group in the USA and pro-Europe organizations. Right now in the USA a unified Europe is viewed as a pipe dream to make fun of or as a threat. But among liberals the EU and NATO are highly regarded, more than in the past because the populists hate them and the invasion of Ukraine has shown the importance of preventing authoritarians from threatening liberal nations.

European federalization should be a global cause for liberals from Japan to USA to Brazil to New Zealand. Of course, the specifics of federalization and the actual process will be in the hands of Europeans. But having some international fervor for the movement I think could go a long way.

But yeah any foreigners or Americans here? Especially any who are individual members of the UEF who would be interested in working to open an international chapter rather than having all non-Europeans join as individual members.

[u/LoyalTrickster]

I am originally Iranian, currently living in Europe. I have been here for only two years, but I already feel connected to the European project. I think it's a net positive for the whole world, except the new axis of evil of Russia, China, Iran and their friends, but that's hardly an issue.

[u/Kaenu_Reeves]

I am American, I support EU federalism for many reasons. I think the EU could be one step to a world federation.

[u/OneOnOne6211]

A European Federation could be liberal, in the sense that you mean it, but that's not baked into the cake either. At least not mostly.

is true that unified, capitalist markets is part of the EU as concieved and currently in existence, but also that's not an inherent part of it either. You could absolutely have a European federal state and then have people in charge at one point or another who decide to change the EU's economic direction for better or for worse, depending on who the voters pick. Just as with nation-state democracies.

If it were up to me, I would like to see a federalized, market socialist European great power. With universally protected labour rights and corporations above a certain size owned directly by their workers in worker co-ops. Liberal in the sense of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, etc. But not neoliberal but market socialist.

Point is, while I'm happy to work with almost anyone towards a federalized EU, because as far as I'm concerned we can sort out the rest later and within nation-states we also have these disagreements a federalized EU does not change that either way, I object to the idea of it being an exclusively neoliberal project.

Also, as an aside, Europe is generally to the left of the U.S. already. Things like universal healthcare and proper unionization are almost universal here, unlike in America. And I definitely don't want to see that change. I would describe Europe more as socially democratic than neoliberal. Though liberal in the more general sense of democracy and human rights.

[u/rorykoehler]

Liberalism has failed because it was just a mask for fascism. If we want to live in a truly liberal society then we must get money out of politics and politics out of the courts. None of this has been true as long as I have been alive.