England and the Need for Nations, 2nd Edition

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The nation state is the most effective model for ensuring peace, prosperity, and the protection of human rights. Despite this, it faces criticism as a source of conflict and is seen as outdated in favor of more ‘enlightened’ governance. However, recent efforts to move beyond the nation state into transnational political systems have often resulted in totalitarian regimes, like the former Soviet Union, or unaccountable bureaucracies, such as the European Union. Current initiatives aimed at altering the European Union to undermine our sovereignty and erase jurisdictional boundaries have brought us to a critical juncture. Roger Scruton warns that we are on the verge of making decisions that could have dire consequences for Europe and the world. He emphasizes the importance of reclaiming our heritage, urging us to remember Goethe’s words: “What you have inherited from your forefathers, earn it, that you might own it.” It is essential for the nation states of Europe to reclaim the sovereignty that previous generations painstakingly established through the legacies of Christianity, imperial governance, and Roman law. By earning this sovereignty, we will truly own it and, in doing so, achieve lasting peace within our borders.