COLUMN: In Central Europe, a new house divided

From Andrew Exum's, "Perilous Orthodoxy," Fall '00 From Andrew Exum's, "Perilous Orthodoxy," Fall '00Yes, we still call it the "War of Northern Aggression." But the tongue-in-cheek moniker we Southerners attach to the American Civil War has less to do with lingering animosity toward the outcome of the war than you might think. In the eyes of southern states circa 1860, the federal government, led by states of the North, was trying to exert its undue influence upon matters -- namely slavery -- that southern states deemed solely the concern of individual states. And so in 1860, America was bloodily divided. The causes of our own Civil War are worth keeping in mind today as we look at recent developments in the European Union. In Austria, a country slightly smaller than Maine, a scary, right-wing, anti-immigrant party has put together a coalition that threatens to dominate the nation's political landscape. The party leaders openly admire Nazi labor policies and preach that immigrants are responsible for many of the nation's woes. Such rhetoric doesn't go over well in a country that has never really come to terms with its Nazi past. Because, while many in Austria consider the country to be Nazi Germany's first victims, others were all too complicit with Nazi rule. Denouncements of the new Freedom Party have come in the form of protests in Austria, warnings from neighboring countries and even a column by Salman Rushdie in The New York Times. For their part, the European Union -- of which Austria is a member -- has warned it will cut off diplomatic ties with the country if it continues to recognize the party, led by ultra-conservative and neo-fascist Jorg Haider. Austria has been a member of the E.U. since 1995. But Austria, always somewhat weary of the Union, has retained its constitution and refused to station foreign soldiers on its lands. Under the Amsterdam Treaty, the European Union can only take action against member states in the event of "serious and persistent breaches" of human rights. So in Europe, the E.U. finds itself in a bind much like that of the U.S. federal government 140 years ago. Where, one wonders, does a country's right to govern itself end and European Union sovereignty begin? Romano Prodi, the president of the European Commission, is under pressure from the 14 other member governments of the European Union to take action against Austria. French President Jacques Chirac has already gone so far as to call for a diplomatic boycott of Austria. Many Austrians, meanwhile, are incensed that the E.U. can claim such rights over an autonomous nation. Says Austrian Foreign Minister Wolfgang SchYssel, "I would find it strange if the 14 E.U. states were to come to such a decision without consultations with the member state Austria." But the actions of the E.U., if any were to take place, would not be without precedent. Just a few weeks ago, in fact, the E.U. high court ordered another member nation, the United Kingdom, to allow homosexuals to openly serve in its military. The U.K., for its part, complied with the E.U. ruling. So is this the end of autonomy for European nations? Does this signal the birth of a new united states, the United States of Europe (U.S.E.), perhaps? Even scarier, are we looking at the beginnings of federal-state animosity within the E.U. that will result in bloody civil war much like our own? In other words, is Europe 2000 a mirror of America circa 1850? The decision the E.U. makes with regard to Austria will offer us a better glimpse of the future in Europe, but for now, the E.U. should proceed cautiously with the suddenly volatile Austria. Along with the U.S., the E.U. has announced that it will distance itself from the new Austrian government. I can't help but think that isolating Austria diplomatically is a tremendous mistake, especially at a time when its government is becoming increasingly nationalistic and isolated already. Wouldn't isolating Austria play right into the Freedom Party's hands, fueling the fire of its jingoistic, anti-foreign rhetoric? As anti-federal animosity in 19th century South Carolina galvanized its neighbor states to rebel against the federal government, will 21st century Austria incite further rebellion within Europe against the new E.U.? Let's hope that diplomacy and good sense prevail in the crisis in Europe. The image of yet another army in Union blue marching off to fight yet another bloody civil war is one the world is not prepared to face.