European Union 70 Years Later: Žižek on Crisis, Trump, Russia, and the End of the World
In this Rome speech marking 70 years since the Treaty of Rome, Slavoj Žižek reflects on the European Union’s present condition through Gramsci, Benjamin, and a broad critique of contemporary geopolitics. He argues that today’s “morbid phenomena” are not simply delays in historical progress but signs of a deeper trajectory toward catastrophe, including ecological collapse, uncontrolled AI, and war. Žižek contrasts European self-understanding with the rhetoric of U.S. and Russian leaders, who frame politics in civilizational and even metaphysical terms. The speech warns that both populist discourse and great-power conflict are pushing the world toward a breakdown of shared political and legal coordinates.
The EU at 70 and the crisis of historical transition
Žižek opens by situating the speech on the anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and invokes Gramsci’s idea that crises produce “morbid phenomena.” He argues that this old Marxist framework is no longer enough, because modern history now seems to move toward catastrophe rather than toward a progressive transition.
From progress to emergency brake
Using Walter Benjamin’s image of revolution as an emergency brake, Žižek suggests that politics today should focus on stopping destruction rather than accelerating historical change. He connects this to climate breakdown, artificial intelligence, and the risk of wider war.
Civilizational erasure and political language
Žižek examines U.S. rhetoric about Europe’s supposed “civilizational erasure,” linking it to demands for cultural conformity, closed borders, and anti-climate politics. He argues that populist language often turns freedom into the right to offend and frames opponents as weak, feminized, or emasculated.
War, power, and the breakdown of law
The speech criticizes the way force is normalized in political discourse, pointing to examples involving the U.S. and Iran, the war in Ukraine, and the erosion of international law. Žižek presents these developments as evidence that war is increasingly treated as domination rather than as a legally regulated conflict.
Russia, anti-Western ideology, and false struggles
Žižek also focuses on Russian state ideology, describing its appeal to “traditional values,” hostility to Europe, and metaphysical framing of conflict. He warns that anti-colonial and anti-imperial language can be used to justify oppressive politics and false alliances that undermine emancipatory struggles.
Key takeaways
- Žižek presents the EU’s 70-year anniversary as a moment to rethink politics under conditions of looming catastrophe.
- He argues that the real crisis is not transition but the drift toward ecological, technological, and military self-destruction.
- The speech criticizes U.S. and Russian leaders for turning politics into civilizational conflict and raw power.
- Žižek warns that anti-Western and populist rhetoric can conceal authoritarian and anti-emancipatory agendas.
- He frames the proper political response as an “emergency brake” on destructive historical processes.
Source: Slavoj Žižek, “EUROPEAN UNION, SEVENTY YEARS LATER,” published on Substack on 2026-04-04. URL: https://slavoj.substack.com/p/european-union-70-years-later Read the original post on Substack.