The Visionary Realism Of Timothy Garton Ash

The distinguished beardie and professional Europhile has published an analysis of Sino-European relations. He writes,

"Seizing the hopeful moment that is the advent of the Obama presidency, we should start work with China on a strategic partnership including four major projects of what I call visionary realism: a reformed and strengthened global economic order, a multilateral and multidimensional approach to development (including trade, aid, good governance, transparency, democracy and the rule of law), energy and the environment (a central plank of the Obama campaign) and, last but not least, reversing nuclear proliferation."

Watching these thought processes at work is akin to observing a small marsupial climbing a gum tree. If he thinks that the Chinese are in the business of business for the benefit of anyone but themselves, and care anything for the state of any 'global economic order' which will not result in them becoming top dogs, he is grimly hauling himself off the ground. If he thinks that the Chinese approach to development will ever be anything other than helping themselves to develop at everyone else's expense, he is doggedly mounting the tree paw over paw. If he ever thinks that the Chinese attitude to energy will ever be anything other than trying to bag as much of it as they can for themselves, and their attitude to the environment anything other than locust-like, he is slowly levering himself up through the branches. And if he thinks the Chinese really care about any aspect of nuclear proliferation other than ensuring they have more nukes than anyone else, he has reached the top of the gum tree in triumph, and is happily munching on the leaves.

Garton Ash is so genuinely civilised that one doesn't wish to criticise him; although he sometimes says what seem like silly things, he really does believe what he's saying, and he really does care. His sincerity and humanity are beyond reproach.

Yet while this vision is indeed visionary, it is so grossly unrealistic, so entirely dependent on the Chinese altering their behaviour for the better in ways they have never given any indication that they intend to do, that it can only be condemned in the strongest possible terms.