Flash Points: The Emerging Crisis in Europe, by George Friedman, Doubleday, 2015
By Sheila Orysiek
SAN DIEGO — All too often history is taught and written as a series of events and dates. But when looking at it through the eyes of George Friedman, it becomes much more: a dynamic of moving tectonic plates involving people, geography, culture, economics, weather, resources, religion and group memory.
I have always thought of Europe as a continent. However, again, as seen through the eyes of Friedman it is a cape on the edge of the Asian landmass which descends into a series of peninsulas. It is also comparatively small in size, heavily populated, divided into many nations and fractured by mountains, rivers as well as the peninsulas.
Europe has spent centuries tearing itself up and then reconstituting itself – much like a kaleidoscope – at great expense in lives and resources. It has often exported the worst of itself, and yet, Europe has dominated the world with ideas, art, science, industry and much else that is good. Why has the same area produced both the best and the worst of what happens to humanity?
Why is Europe often the flashpoint for good and ill?
Why is chaos and war always so near the surface among these nations?
What are the dynamics that seem to light the fires of dissent?
Why are cultural differences so distinct within a very small area?
Is it possible for Europe to find a different future or is it locked into a future that resembles its past?
Are the components that make for problems changeable? Or is Europe fated to remain a prisoner of its past?
Friedman presents the dynamics of this history and explores the “flash points” – the borderlands – the places of friction – the cultural and religious differences which flare up and involve not only Europe, but radiate out to ignite the rest of the world as well.
Born in Hungary, the author smoothly weaves the flight of his Jewish family seeking safety in America into the tapestry of Europe’s past and present. One might imagine that a book written about geopolitics might make for dry as dust reading – not so. In the hands of a fine author the dust is swept clean. I will never look at a map of Europe in quite the same way.
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Orysiek is a freelance writer who specializes in arts and literature. You may comment directly to the author at sheila.orysiek@sdjewishworld.com or post your comment on this website provided that the rules below are observed.
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