Europe in Search of Her Soul

The civilization of the modern world takes its origins in the Renaissance in Europe. A Historical reconstruction of the creation of modern Europe since the Renaissance leads to a thorough understanding of the critical and constituent elements that are characteristic of the mindset of Europe and its people. These principal elements are the growing individual consciousness and the role played by the individual in society, the specific European view on progress, and the unique European view on growth. Science and technology are the foundation and basic melody of the Western model of capitalism and life in modern Europe. In their combination, this complex of factors and forces has driven Europe and the West to colonialism and the paradigm of never-ending Expansion. These constituent factors and their systemic interdependencies are characteristic of the mindset of Europe and of the collective historical memory of the Western nations. The specific mindset of Europe and its people is considered the principal root cause of the economic, political and environmental crises in Europe. Through globalization, the crisis in Europe and the Western-dominated world has spread and is exerting its impact globally. Life on earth has reached a threshold. The crisis is further exacerbated by a lack of globally valid rules for global governance to effectively cope with the crisis. The Global South is not convinced by the suggestions and actions of the Western power elites. Hence, it is high time for Europe and the Western nations to look for an honorable and peaceful outcome. Pragmatic and feasible Steps for a way out of the crisis in Europe are shown in the book. A change in the mindset in Europe and a paradigm shift in politics are demanded.