Member-only story

Improvising Politics On The European Stage: The Art Of Making Do And Getting By

Terence Nelson

·5.8k Followers· Follow

Published in Alarums And Excursions: Improvising Politics On The European Stage

4 min read

418 View Claps

22 Respond

Save

Listen

In the ever-changing political landscape of Europe, improvisation has become a key skill for leaders. From Brexit to the refugee crisis, European leaders have had to adapt and respond quickly to unforeseen events.

Alarums and Excursions: Improvising Politics on the European Stage

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1432 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	404 pages

Improvisation is the art of making do with what you have, and it is a skill that can be applied to any area of life. In politics, improvisation can be used to navigate complex negotiations, build consensus, and respond to crises.

One of the most famous examples of improvisation in politics is the story of the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1962, the United States discovered that the Soviet Union was building nuclear missile bases in Cuba. President John F. Kennedy responded by imposing a naval blockade on Cuba and demanding that the Soviets remove the missiles.

The crisis was resolved through a combination of diplomacy and improvisation. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev engaged in a series of secret negotiations, and eventually the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles. However, the crisis could easily have escalated into nuclear war, and it was only through the improvisational skills of Kennedy and Khrushchev that disaster was averted.

Improvisation is not just about making do with what you have; it is also about being able to think on your feet and adapt to changing circumstances. In the European Union, leaders have had to improvise on a number of occasions in recent years.

The Brexit referendum in 2016 was a major shock to the EU, and it forced leaders to come up with a new plan for the future of the union. The refugee crisis in 2015 also presented a major challenge, and EU leaders had to find a way to deal with the influx of people fleeing war and persecution.

In both of these cases, EU leaders were able to improvise and find solutions to difficult problems. They did so by working together, sharing information, and being willing to compromise. It is this spirit of improvisation that has allowed the EU to survive and thrive in the face of adversity.

Improvisation is not always easy, but it is a necessary skill for leaders in the 21st century. In a world that is constantly changing, the ability to adapt and respond quickly is essential. European leaders have shown that they are capable of improvising, and they will need to continue to do so in the years to come.

Alarums and Excursions: Improvising Politics on the European Stage

4.1 out of 5