I understand the case for the breaking up of the Eurozone. I do appreciate the virtue behind a flexible exchange rate, especially for cases like Greece. There is a need for rebalancing that a monetary union cannot provide. Yet, I am uneasy at the suggestion of a break-up, of Grexit, because deep inside of me, I am more or less an internationalist.<\/p>\n
The internationalist sentiment is derived from my libertarian belief. It is about freedom of movement. Free flow of labor. Free flow of capital. All around the world.<\/p>\n
I dream of a world where I would not have to present identification whenever I land in some foreign airports. I dream that I would be free to be anyway I choose without the need to ask permission from the state.<\/p>\n
Unleash the ideal world and what I call the crazy me would come out as an anarchist. Specifically, an anarcho-capitalist. Freedom unbounded.<\/p>\n
But I am not an anarchist because I understand anarchism is inherently unstable. I settle for the second best option available and that is free-market libertarianism.<\/p>\n
Just as anarchism is the ideal but unattainable and thus the second-best solution is libertarianism, internationalism is the ideal but the second best approach is regionalism, for now.<\/p>\n
This fuels my sympathy for the Eurozone. I want the Eurozone to be intact because of my bias. It has nothing to do about being western or Europe-centric.<\/p>\n
I want it intact so that in the future, the Asean version can emerge. An Eurozone failure will likely inform decision on a more integrated Asean. Already the Indonesian President warned Asean of repeating the European mistake. The warning is appropriate but as I have argued, there are appropriate lessons to learn from the European crisis without jettisoning a closer Asean idea.<\/p>\n
And I do think Europe will succeed, if recent history is of value.<\/p>\n
The end of World War II saw closer cooperation between European countries: observe the Marshall Plan. Not all and definitely it was easy to cooperation when your opponent is dead, but the cooperation happened and that is the point.<\/p>\n
The Cold War saw closer integration: observe the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community.<\/p>\n
Post-Cold War saw even more: observe the European Union and its expansion.<\/p>\n
The European Exchange Rate Mechanism crisis brought closer cooperation: observe the introduction of the Eurozone.<\/p>\n
Now, the latest Eurozone crisis may bring in closer cooperation: observe the fiscal union proposal.<\/p>\n
So, do not ring the bell yet. The regionalist game is not over yet and the outcome of death is not certain.<\/p>\n
As a libertarian, the issue is the creation of a stronger state but I think, this can be a largely enlightened state, with a federal structure is can be a counterforce to the central government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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