December 5, 2005
BRITAIN ISN'T EUROPEAN:
Ghost of Napoleon haunts Tony Blair: The divergence of Britain from the Continent can be traced to Bonaparte's greatest victory 200 years ago -- and his enduring legacy. (Niall Ferguson, December 5, 2005, LA Times)
Napoleon's idea of Europe was double-edged. On the one hand, he overthrew decadent dynasties such as the Bourbons of Naples and established what was to become the model for Continental legal systems, the Code Napoléon. Later, in exile, he claimed that he had "wished to found a European system, a European code of laws, a European judiciary" so that "there would be one people in Europe." Yet, at the same time, Napoleonic Europe was without question an authoritarian empire.What finally killed Napoleon's Europe was the fatal combination of the English Channel and the Russian winter. Nevertheless, it proved impossible to restore the old pre-Napoleonic Europe.
Napoleon fell; Bonapartism lived on, with the civil code and economic dirigisme as perhaps its most enduring legacies.
And how they have endured! Ask yourself what are the biggest differences between England and the Continent?
The answer is that the Europeans have Napoleonic law and economics, and the English, whom he did not conquer, have common law and the free market.
Which is why Tony Blair must often feel that Napoleon's ghost has come back to haunt him.
The Channel likewise kept them free from Hitler and will allow them to ignore the EU when they finally wake up. Posted by Orrin Judd at December 5, 2005 9:51 AM
Confusion to Bonaparte!
You always get evolutionary divergence on islands...
Posted by: Brit at December 5, 2005 9:56 AMAh, the inevitable descent of Darwinism into racism....
Posted by: oj at December 5, 2005 10:02 AMTo their credit the continentals do at least (in theory) all drive on the righthand side of the road.
Posted by: MB at December 5, 2005 12:13 PMComedy classic:
...in exile, he claimed that he had "wished to found a European system, a European code of laws, a European judiciary" so that "there would be one people in Europe." Yet, at the same time, Napoleonic Europe was without question an authoritarian empire.
Imagine that! Pan-European, "yet" authoritarian! I can't imagine how that could happen.
Sort of OT, but this weekend I happened to be reading a Honore Balzac story, "Colonel Chabert", about a famous Colonel in Napoleon's army who gets sabered by a Russian & then run over by 1500 horses of his own regiment. He's assumed dead. But he's not!! But no one will believe he's returned, and his wife doesn't want him! Lawyers get involved.
Anyway, the story takes place in post-Waterloo France, and the attitude towards the old soldier & old soldiers in general seems at once wistful and embarrassed. On the one hand, the government tries to ignore the old days & "wants to get rid of the Empire people". On the other hand, you get a lingering sense of pride for France's formerly grand, triumphant army. And members of the Legion of Honor wear broad red sashes.
I think it's the only Balzac story I've ever read. The lawyer angle was interesting -- some things never change!!
Posted by: Twn at December 5, 2005 1:51 PMEver seen Emporer's New Clothes?
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0282768/
Posted by: oj at December 5, 2005 3:03 PMSo having a stretch of ocean insulating a country from its enemies is fundamental to how things turn out.
Who knew?
OJ:
Ah the inevitable descent of Darwinism into racism ...
Well no; a statement of fact. Unless, of course, you have information to the contrary.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at December 5, 2005 3:27 PMSicily fell.
What species is it you think Brits evolved into?
Posted by: oj at December 5, 2005 3:32 PM
Ever seen Emporer's New Clothes?
Nope. It can join the list.
Posted by: Twn at December 5, 2005 3:46 PMSicily fell.
As will all nations, eventually.
But neglecting the effect of being surrounded by water is to deny the glaringly obvious.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at December 5, 2005 5:18 PMJeff:
Yes, obviously being an island does not suffice.
What species is it you think Brits became?
Posted by: oj at December 5, 2005 6:17 PMOJ:
Hobbits, obviously. Islands evolve dwarf species.
Posted by: Mike Earl at December 5, 2005 11:26 PMNo, the British are obviously a superior race. Achtung, baby!
Posted by: Oswald Mosely at December 6, 2005 8:13 AMJeff:
Didn't stop the Romans, the Jutes, Saxons, French, etc.
Posted by: oj at December 6, 2005 8:15 AMAhem. Normans, not French, and we are them.
The secret of British success is to have unguidedly evolved, rather than intelligently designed itself.
OJ:
Well, that makes you an army of one who thinks the English Channel wasn't a significant impediment to invasion.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at December 6, 2005 12:39 PMJeff:
The name Judd derives from Jutland. We Jutes raped our way through England without much problem.
Posted by: oj at December 6, 2005 12:42 PMSince Magna Carta, obviously. That's the last thing we bothered to write down.
Posted by: Brit at December 6, 2005 2:12 PMIt's not magic--the formula doesn't have to be written.
Posted by: oj at December 6, 2005 2:20 PM