Good summary of the situation. One thing, I think re: "Yet while this vision of an autonomous Europe might sound alluring, the means are still lacking."
I think it's not so so much the means, as the self-belief. I doubt Europe in 1914 had more means available, but they had the self confidence, both at the top and among the people, to put their best foot forward (for better or worse). This was still true even in 1939. Europe in 2025 has lost any faith in the nation as a force for good and as something to cherish, and doesn't really know what to do about anything, beyond a vague hope that everyone should be nice to each other, and that regulation solves any variation from that ideal. As you can see, I don't really think Europe has ever recovered from WW1.
Good summary of the situation. One thing, I think re: "Yet while this vision of an autonomous Europe might sound alluring, the means are still lacking."
I think it's not so so much the means, as the self-belief. I doubt Europe in 1914 had more means available, but they had the self confidence, both at the top and among the people, to put their best foot forward (for better or worse). This was still true even in 1939. Europe in 2025 has lost any faith in the nation as a force for good and as something to cherish, and doesn't really know what to do about anything, beyond a vague hope that everyone should be nice to each other, and that regulation solves any variation from that ideal. As you can see, I don't really think Europe has ever recovered from WW1.