Is Ideological Competition in Europe Necessary?

What is it about?

Ideological competition in Europe, was supposed to end with the Cold War. There are two leading explanations for why it did not. The first says that a Cold War mentality persists because former Soviet elites failed to acknowledge their defeat. This has led to a “values gap” that is preventing progress. The other leading explanation is that Western elites have refused to acknowledge Russia’s contribution to ending the Cold War in order to assume the dominant position in the relationship. This dominance is manifested in the so-called “values gap.” This essay questions the legitimacy of this presumed “values gap” and proposes as an alternative strategy, an integral Europe that embraces its Slavic Heritage as part of its core identity.

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Why is it important?

The "values gap" lies at the heart of our failure to move beyond the Cold War.