Learn English free online - how to pronounce word in English - English Learning Online- www.pronounceword.com

名人教英文:国族主义重临欧洲?

名人教英文:国族主义重临欧洲?

希腊债台高筑,可能破产。截稿时,德国和法国仍然设法救助希腊,阻止希腊脱离欧元区。geopolitical weekly评论员george friedman认为,从债务危机可见,欧洲各国之间有不少利益冲突,一体化的前景并不乐观。

战后,欧洲致力于经济一体化,最初成立欧洲经济共同体(european economic community),就是为了整合欧洲市场;之后,欧盟(european union)成立,推动政治一体化,希望和美国争一日之长短。那时候,欧洲人对统一充满信心。friedman在9月13日的文章the crisis of europe and european nationalism说:

“when i visited europe in 2008 and before, the idea that europe was not going to emerge as one united political entity was regarded as heresy by many leaders. the european enterprise was seen as a work in progress moving inevitably toward unification - a group of nations committed to a common fate. ”

european enterprise指欧盟的统一大业;work在大部分情况都是不可数名词,但解作「艺术作品」时是可数名词,a work in progress 意即「仍在进行的创作」—除了欧洲一体化,我们的「一国两制」也可以用a work in progress来比喻。

当时大部分人认为欧洲国家将来必然会团结起来,如果有人说欧洲不会成为统一政治体,必会被斥为「异端邪说」(heresy)。然而,今时不同往日:

“what was a core vision in 2008 is now gone. what was inconceivable - the primacy of the traditional nation-state - is now commonly discussed, and steps to devolve europe in part or in whole (such as ejecting greece from the eurozone) are being contemplated. this is not a trivial event.”

随着欧洲经济持续恶化,当年的愿景已经落空。民族国家会否在欧洲政治格局中重获首要地位(primacy)?几年前大家觉得这是不可想象的(inconceivable),但现在都议论纷纷。最近的债务危机中,把希腊逐出(eject)欧元区之说甚嚣尘上。这事绝非等闲(trivial)。欧盟是否面临瓦解?国族主义会否重临?这些问题与欧洲的和平有莫大关系。

英语单词词汇学习:

heresy……异端邪说
inconceivable……不可想象的
primacy……首要地位
devolve……下放(权责)
eject……逐出
trivial……琐碎的