Bill Jamieson: Has Merkel succeeded where Napolean failed?

A NEW, more resilient European Union? Or a Germanised Europe? Where Napoleon and Hitler failed, has Angela Merkel succeeded?

If the hairshirt economics of the “new Europe” isn’t daunting enough, the politics may prove even tougher to swallow. There is already widespread resentment at what is seen as an effective German take-over.

The placards of Merkel daubed with swastikas are of course as absurd as they are deeply offensive. She is no German aggressor or triumphalist. If historical examples are looked for, Prince von Metternich (1773-1859), the German-born Austrian statesman may be the better though far from perfect fit. Metternich succeeded by diplomatic means to secure Austrian hegemony over Europe through various congresses. He used international diplomacy to prevent major wars in Europe – critics put it down to an unerring ability to bore – and was chancellor of Austria for a brief period. He deeply disliked liberalism and nationalism.