European vs. Asian nations as groups
 

I tried for a descriptive title, but what I'm asking is,
I often imagine in my mind and group the European nations such as England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Scandinavian countries, and so on, view themselves and each other as a sort of symbiotic whole made up of vaguely related but not identical parts,

and then compare this to the mutual relationships of China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, and other Asian nations, that they view themselves much the same way as the first group do themselves.

Is the analogy realistic or supportable, or are there serious problems with comparing the two 'constellations' like this?

European countries can be at each other's throats with very little provaction..they have thousands of years of blood between them and they all know it. Sure it's Peaceful now, but don't think old grudges are passed away, look how Serbia and Kosovo went at it...and that was because of bad blood from the 1300's.

Asia is much the same, these countries have alot of history together and much of it is strife based.

Biggest thing? Japan and Korea...eesh...(at least in the news now...)

I don't think you can really group together either set of countries, and this is very much for similiar reasons to what Ryzorian said. To start with each and every country in Europe (and Asia) has it's own language, history, culture, cuisine and so forth. There are many who consider themselves "European", but they still aren't comparable to other Europeans.

In regards to some countries - specifically the UK - there is a lot of antipathy towards Europe. Scotland and Wales are fighting for independence from the United Kingdom, and the United Kingdom - whilst a part of the E.U - has never fully subscribed to all it's laws and rules, just look at the issues surrounding currency. Then there's all the bad blood already mentioned due to wars over the years . . .

So I would say your analogy isn't realistic or supportable, just because many of the countries don't view themselves as you've suggested, and if they did I would wonder if it was even possible to compare Europe to Asia in mentality anyway. Sure, they might both see themselves as part of a 'group', but doesn't the very idea of a 'group' vary from culture to culture, and the concept of what duties one owes to any given group?

The only real thing they have in common is they are countries grouped into continents.

Or by skin color at best.......

I can't say for Europe, not European, never been.

BUT.. Take China for example, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau should have a very close bond. BUT there are a huge difference with the culture, fashion, food, etce etc with all 4 places. Then you throw Japan and Korea into the mix, you widen the difference even more..... Vienam and Cambodia, Lao, Thai etc, intoduce a even deeper difference, especially in the religion side, and cultural food.....

In fact NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is unifying European countries! So they use to act together (USA has the lead) to defend their interest! But otherwise they have differences in all other sectors. Germanic, Latin and other races-ethnics think differently...

Belgium is an example: Since June 2010 there is no government because Belgian Flemings (speak Dutch) and Belgian Wallonia (speak French) can't agree about Bruxelles communities "official" languages!! In some areas both languages are spoken! So, a government can't be built!

There's not much left of the North Atlantic in NATO.... Seems if you're in Europe, you can apply to join.... Once the Warsaw Pact dissolved, NATO was obsolete....

Vaguely related - hmmm...

It's only 3% of our DNA that sets us apart from chimpanzees.

Since we've got only this 'ere planet and it doesn't look like we're going anywhere else soon we can keep going like in the past - hacking away at each other till the last one's standing - or try and figure out a way how to get our sh*t together. Doesn't have to be one beeeg happy family. I'll settle for mutual respect , live and let live for starters. Besides, fun 'n fornication beats fighting every time ;)

Dude, we barely have 10% DNA that seperates us from the common housfly, so that's sort of an flippant answer. Of course we have similer DNA we are built on the same system.

I will make one interesting point that science has only recently discovered. Europenas and Asians have between 1 to 4% Neanderthal DNA while Africans have 0%. They don't know what caused this but it is interesting to note that Europeans and Asians are related through common ancestry.

Sorry..bad blood? lol
Just for the record, Battle of Kosovo was 1389. between Serbian and Ottoman Empire.
Sultan Murat I (Turkey) first attacked Serbia. Kosovo was Serbia.

Having done a quick search, I'm not sure what you are correcting in Ryozarian's statement . . .

1389 was in the 1300's, as he said. Turkey is partially in Europe, so regardless of who fought who the point about bad blood between European countries remains. Also I'm a little uncertain about Serbia and Kosovo . . . the information I'm finding is rather confusing, but it seems they are currently seperate states that experience a lot of conflict for various reasons, reasons that seem to stem back to the Kosovo war . . .?

Either way, I think his point remains. They're all European, and they did have bad blood between them.

OMG

Really!

Pekmezza: In reguard to why Serbs and Kosavars..who are largely Albainian hate each other. It does stem from that battle in 1389..the Albainians converted to Islam dureing this period..basically to save thier hide, cause it was convert or die. The Serbs felt betrayed by that and have NEVER FORGOTTEN it, Nor FORGIVEN it. Thus conflict.

Albanian's didn't convert in that period nor was it as bloody as you paint it... it seems to me that you are talking of something you really don't know much of ;)

I am reminded in this whole discussion of the phrase, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." :rolleyes:

It is all about current self-interests.

best,

............john

Yes many converted, considering they are muslim now. Yes it was bloody. You don't think ethinc cleansing didn't take place then? It wasn't called the dark ages because no one had eltricity.

If you read carefully then you'll notice that I wrote that they didn't convert in that period... they converted them much later by offering advantages with diffrent positions (army, bureaucratic) and with trade networks.

For the record it's called the dark ages since Europe took a step back with science... hmmm... more intellectually actually (if you can say that).

Well, I don't know about Serbia, but at least all the countries that are in the EU are fine. The only people that still have grudges against other countries are some people that have lived in the time of WW2. With all other people the grudges ARE passed away. UK, Holland, Belgium, Germany, France .... we have put the past behind us.
I love Germans just as much as the Dutch. For example when our country has to play football against Germany, I'm actually cheering for Germany. :p

I understand that's how it is currently, but resentment, anger and hostility won't go away that easily. With the European economy struggleing and many EU countries on the verge of finacial collapse, they won't be so chummy. Germany, with it's successful economy will be seen through the eyes of jelousy. Germans will become suspicious of others intent. We have seen this book written before in Europe and around the world.

Bearclaw; I agree about the Dark ages was Europe takeing a step back. The barbarians destroyed the Roman empire and with it went all the technicians, arcitects, masons, doctors, writers and artists. They basically had to relearn everything from scratch. As much as people hate empires, they bring civilization.

We are not as triggerhappy as Americans...
If one of us is in trouble we help each other. That's what the EU is for.

Right, I'm sure they will all remember that when the envariable economic depression caused by thier socialized states comes a calling to collect.

Germany already bailed out Greece.... Spain and Portugal seem to be next.... How many more countries are the German people going to bail out before the growing resentment for the poorer countries in the EU surfaces?

Or before Germany decides enough is enough and those idiot countries can bail themselves out?

It's not entirely their fault their economy isn't that great right now. The financial crisis started out in the USA. If there ever surfaces an resentment, it won't be against our own EU countries.

It may have started in the US, but it surely is the fault of the EU countries' banks who thought buying US debt as an asset was a smart idea. Look at China. They were smart enough not to mess with it and they're not having to deal with toxic assets....

Rumors have begun about countries leaving the Euro.... I don't know how founded they are, but it seems to me that all is not peachy in Europe....

I was born in Spain and lived there for nearly half of my life. I have most of my familiar roots still in Spain and I consider myself more Spanish than American, so this is not a US vs. EU discussion for me. I'm still trying to figure this country out (United States)....

The EU made it more easy to trade and things like that, but even if things are not going so well and the EU is falling apart (And trust me I couldn't care less if it happened) we're still not going to attack each other or anything like Ryzorian said..

Countries leaving the Euro doesn't mean everyone's going to start arguing!

I love Asian countries for they are very diligent enough, and they promote good sense of dignity. They fight for their country at times of defeat. They even care for their citizen.:rheart: :rheart: :rheart:

How much history does Europe have of fighting and warfare and how much does it have of "working together"?.

Johnbraden; I was born in the US and I can't figure us out either.