This book could not be discussed in the mainstream European media. Because it would act as an eye-opener to all of those who are not already seeing what lies ahead of us: the end of our civilization in its very birthplace, if no reaction or opposite trend appear ( do not hesitate to compare this with the fate of the Roman Empire). And political correctness does not allow that.
Walter Laqueur manages to give a sober, dispassionate and erudite account of the continent's very gloomy future. And with his track-record as a professor and author of numerous books, he cannot be suspected of right-wing sympathies.
The birthrate amongst native Europeans is desperately low and below reproduction rate; it has been low since 1900 but is now reaching pathetic levels. Europe is shrinking, Europe is dying.
Meanwhile, an alien population of Muslims, introduced to Europe from the 1960s without consulting its local population, is growing fast. In its majority, even amongst the second or third generation, it seems to be unable to integrate into Western European society and is even rejecting its values with increasing force. For years, focused on other issues, Europeans did not see how much of a problem these opposing demographic evolutions would cause.
Even now, politicians and the media are focusing on the problems that the aging population is bringing; who will pay for pensions and health care? Nobody seems to realize that at some point, in 20 to 30 years' time, when the baby-boom generation will have rejoined its ancestors, Muslims in Europe will most probably represent 25% if not more of Europe's population, an even bigger proportion of its younger age groups, those that represent the future, and a clear majority in a number of large cities and their surrounding regions.
That would happen even if immigration should stop today. But it is not stopping but accelerating, with all those poor and illiterate people attracted by the magnet of European prosperity, seeing the " hen with the golden eggs".
Muslims in Europe are optimistic. They know all they have to do is to wait, because Europeans are either not realizing what is happening, or refusing to admit it, and therefore are not reacting. Why? Because European civilization lost its vigor on the battlefields of WWI and WWII, lost its self-confidence and pride, does not believe in its own fundamental values enough to defend them, because the process of European integration (that has largely ground to a halt) cannot replace that emptiness.
There might be a radical yet acceptable approach and Laqueur does not speak of it. Europe should seal its borders as much as possible, introduce managed immigration, keep Muslims out, favor migrants from other parts of the world, and above all that, set up natalist policies that reverse the trend. But I repeat: all that is not compatible with the political correctness prevailing today and natalist policies remind Europe of fascism.
But who knows, if we try dreaming a bit, Europe's problems might also contain within themselves the welcome germs of change. Aging will cause the final collapse of the welfare state as we know it, reducing the attractiveness of Europe to fascinated outsiders, and it will no longer be affordable (sadly)to keep people alive beyond a certain age. There will also be less unemployment as this was largely created by the arrival of the baby-boomers on the job market. The renewed job opportunities as well as the capital left behind by these same baby-boomers will encourage their less numerous children to reproduce with more enthusiasm...
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Top reviews from other countries
M. McManus
Very balanced but grim analysis
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2007Mark Anderson
An Excellent Assessment of Europe In The Near Future
Reviewed in Canada on September 29, 2009J. P. Maciag
A very cool analysis...and easy to read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2008D. Halliday
Light reading, light analysis and too much missing.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2009