A Bizarre Map Proposal To Create Peaceful European Harmony
Proposed by the founder of the Pan-European Movement in the 1920s, this map was designed as a solution to any one countries dominance post World War 1 and also an aid to mix old nations and ensure old rivalries dissolved. The European Union would be split into 24 artificially created constituent "slice" nations.
The propasal of a new European map wasn't an official Austrian government proposal but rather a concept created by Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi, a prominent Austrian-Japanese philosopher, writer, and political thinker. Coudenhove-Kalergi was the founder of the Pan-European Movement in the 1920s, which aimed to establish a unified and peaceful Europe in the aftermath of World War I. The notion of dividing Europe into "slice" nations or artificial constructs stemmed from his broader ideas about transcending nationalism and creating a European federation.
The Context of the Idea
Europe in the 1920s was deeply fractured. The devastation of World War I, the rise of nationalist sentiments, and lingering hostilities between nations like France and Germany highlighted the dangers of unrestrained nationalism. Coudenhove-Kalergi recognised that peace in Europe required addressing the root causes of conflict: historical rivalries, ethnonationalism, and the competing ambitions of sovereign states.
His proposed solution was radical: redraw Europe's borders to create new states that would lack the historical baggage of old rivalries and ethnic disputes. By breaking up traditional nations and forming new ones, Coudenhove-Kalergi believed Europe could foster cooperation and mutual understanding.
The Proposal of the European Map and Its Logic
The map envisioned by Coudenhove-Kalergi divided Europe into approximately 24 regions or "slice" nations. These regions were drawn along geographical and economic lines rather than ethnic or historical boundaries. For example:
Long-standing nations like France and Germany would be subdivided into smaller regions.
Multi-ethnic states would integrate populations across borders to dilute the power of singular nationalist ideologies.
Economic interdependence among regions would encourage collaboration and reduce incentives for war.
The logic behind these artificial entities was to:
Dilute Nationalism: By erasing old boundaries and creating new identities, it was believed that divisive nationalist ideologies would weaken.
Foster Integration: Smaller, economically interdependent regions would be forced to cooperate, leading to greater unity across Europe.
Prevent Domination: No single nation would hold disproportionate power, preventing the kind of dominance Germany sought in the early 20th century.
Encourage Unity: Shared governance and mutual reliance would form the basis for a European Union, years before such an idea became politically viable.
Who Was Coudenhove-Kalergi?
Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi (1894–1972) was a cosmopolitan thinker whose upbringing shaped his pan-European ideals. Born into a multicultural family—his father was an Austro-Hungarian diplomat and his mother was Japanese—Coudenhove-Kalergi had a broad perspective on culture and politics. He was profoundly influenced by the horrors of World War I and sought a way to prevent another such catastrophe.
In 1923, he published his manifesto, Pan-Europa, which called for the unification of Europe into a single federation. His ideas were revolutionary at the time and laid the intellectual groundwork for later efforts to create what would eventually become the European Union.
Criticism and Unrealised Vision
While Coudenhove-Kalergi’s ideas were visionary, his specific proposal for "slice" nations was widely criticised and never implemented. Critics argued that:
Cultural and Historical Roots Matter: People’s identities are deeply tied to their histories and cultures, which cannot be artificially redrawn without significant resistance.
National Sovereignty: The concept of sovereignty remained strong, and many nations were unwilling to relinquish their independence.
Practical Challenges: Redrawing borders would likely create new conflicts rather than resolving old ones.
Although the "slice" nations map was never realised, Coudenhove-Kalergi’s broader vision of European integration had a lasting impact. He became an early advocate for the idea of a European Union, promoting economic cooperation and shared governance. His ideas influenced figures such as Aristide Briand, a French politician who proposed a European federation in 1929, and later architects of the EU like Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman.
In recognition of his contributions, Coudenhove-Kalergi was awarded the first Charlemagne Prize in 1950, which honours efforts toward European unity.