Macron's Vision of Sovereignty

      There is a theory in political science that democracy comes in "waves". That is, it comes full force, reaches a climactic peak, and then dies down. This can realistically be said of any trend, from fashion, to food, to even political ideology. Currently, democracy is on the uptick in Europe. After decades of extreme radicalism on both sides of the ideological spectrum, the continent, with the help of French president Emmanuel Macron, is looking to create a single European de facto state that holds democratic values similar to the ones the United States of America was founded on. While Macron can certainly be admired for his passion and idealism, I fear I am going to have to play devil's advocate here. In other words, I refer back to the "waves" theory and, like a true cynic, apply it to this idea proposed by Macron. In other words, it's just a phase.
      For starters, Macron wants to attain this sovereignty, not at a gradual pace, but essentially at the speed of light. In fact, he already has a process of constitutional conventions lined out! As any political scientist knows, you can not obtain legitimacy overnight. State building needs to occur at a slow and steady rate in order to smooth out any rough edges in the making of the constitution. While Macron is a well-known socialist and is clearly a vehicle for change, whether positive or negative, it is also known that Europe has a long-standing history with abuses of power. While I do not believe Macron will lead the European Union into a radical socialist movement, I do believe that it is necessary that Macron not work in isolation. Like American democracy, there must be a process of checks and balances. Unfortunately, if Macron focuses more on speed than content, it is guaranteed that there will be loopholes.
      In addition, Macron must be prepared to deal with collective action problems. Latvia, Hungary, and the Netherlands are hesitant to join, most likely due to fears of losing national identity. He blatantly blew off Britain by claiming that they could not "cherry-pick" the EU rules that it favored. Granted, there is something to be said for cooperation. It ensures that there are no free riders and it also provides a civil opportunity for concerns to be voiced. However, it is clear that that ship has sailed for Britain as they are looking to finalize their exit from the European Union.
      This whole scenario, however toothless, does call into argument the foundation of democracy itself. Emmanuel Macron is a man of the people and for the people. His idea is pure and innocent. He wants all member countries to have a say in the reshaping process, and even for underrepresented states to have a seat at the table after Britain leaves. It has been studied by social scientists that democracy is, unfortunately, on the decline globally, and Macron is definitely aware of this, as his idea stems from all the far-right nationalist movements occurring worldwide. He is going about this in a peaceful way. He does not strike me as one to be keen on adopting George Kennan's policy of containment toward the Soviets, and essentially coercing the members to concede to the change.
      So why should we as Americans invest our time in learning about this process? The answer pertains to author and theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. While critical of American exceptionalism, he believes Americans go around and, with an almost religious fervor, attempt to convince Eastern states that democracy is the way to go. This story ought to show Americans that other countries need to experiment with democratic ideals for themselves. While it may not be stable, it still gives other places a chance to get a feel for the ideology without feeling as if their identities have been threatened.