World War One began a hundred years ago, and today it feels like Europe hasn't progressed at all in those hundred years. Sadly, the Marx Brothers "Duck Soup" remains as relevant as ever.
You think Europe hasn't progressed? Tell me how many shots Russian and Ukranian troops have fired at each other (at the time of me writing this comment).
Alternatively, how many shots have soldiers from the UK, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway fired at each other in the past 60 years? Sure, there's more the Europe than the west, but we're doing pretty well when it comes to peace in that area.
Or, on a more practical note, how many millions of dollars of value has been added to the economies of European states due to agreements such as the EFTA, CEFTA, and the EU Customs Union? How many trade disputes have been resolved?
I agree. Freedom of movement and capital has been a giant leap, and something no other region in the world has achieved. In the mean time if you travel within the US don't be surprised if you are stopped at a random DHS checkpoint.
> Freedom of movement and capital has been a giant leap, and something no other region in the world has achieved.
I agree that it is a giant leap, but disagree that no other region of the world has achieved this. India and China have larger populations than the EU. And, the USA has built itself on having decent freedom of movement between the 50 states, and has far fewer barriers to that movement.
I take it that your comment refers to border patrol overreach and note that even Schengen (EU border agreement) allows border patrol up to 50km past the border.
Sixty years before the WWI was also an unprecedented time of peace. I'm not saying that we're looking at anything similar here but people used to believe that trade and wealth it generates are so great that Europeans would never go to war. And then they did.
Another argument missing the point is that Russia currently is in no state for any large organized military operation. It's true. But it was also true after the WWI, in 1920, and it didn't stop them from trying[1].
From Wikipedia [1] , in the 60 years prior to WWI (1854-1914), the following wars were fought within and between the Great Powers in Europe:
1. The 1863-4 Polish Rebellion (in the Russian Empire).
2. The 1866 Austro-Prussian War.
3. The 1870-1 Franco-Prussian War.
And this is not counting assorted wars between Great Powers and smaller countries (e.g. Prussia against Denmark) or civil wars in smaller countries (like Spain).
Seriously, Europe's come a long way. There have basically only been the Soviet suppression of uprisings in Eastern Bloc countries during the Cold War, and the assorted Yugoslav Wars. Not perfect, but not too shabby.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_Soup_(1933_film)