Language
Country/Area
No result found
How did the Russian Czar become the first prophet of the 'Sick Man of Europe'?
The label "Sick Man of Europe" was first used by Russian Tsar Nicholas I in the mid-19th century, specifically referring to the then declining Ottoman Empire. This term was thrown out in the diplomatic context of the time. At that time, European countries held different views on the future of the Ottoman Empire, which to a certain extent affected the subsequent historical process.
At the September 1833 meeting, Nicholas I described the Ottoman Empire as a "sick man". His remarks at the time aroused great diplomatic attention.
The concept of the "Eastern Question" was actually not just about the decline of the Ottoman Empire, it also involved the balance of power among the major European countries at the time. The Tsar hoped to use this opportunity to expand Russia's territory. However, Metternich, the foreign minister of the Austrian Empire, was very worried about this statement, because if Ottoman was regarded as a "sick man", then Austria might become the "sick man of the Danube."
In his conversation with Nikolai, Metternich clearly expressed his objection to this description, but also admitted that the Ottomans were indeed facing great internal and external challenges at the time.
With the advent of the Crimean War, this statement of Nicholas I once again attracted attention. British politician John Russell reported in 1853 that Nicholas I described the Ottoman Empire as "a patient, very sick", which highlighted the importance attached to the Ottoman Empire at that time and Europe's concern about it.
However, with a series of international political changes, this label has gradually been applied to other countries. After World War I, the decline of the Ottoman Empire led to its disintegration, which in turn led to many countries being dubbed the "Sick Man of Europe."
"The defeat of the Ottoman Empire caused many countries to be regarded as a new generation of "sick men" at the time, just like the various challenges faced by countries such as France and Germany. ”
For example, in the 1950s, France was gradually regarded as the "sick man of Europe" due to its economic difficulties and failure of post-war urban reconstruction. Between the 1960s and the 1980s, the United Kingdom was also called this after it experienced a series of economic challenges and lost its superpower status.
In the 21st century, due to Brexit and the related crisis of rising costs, the title of "sick man" in the UK has returned again. As Germany has also been affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, its economy cannot make ends meet and its industrial base has been severely hit. Germany will become the latest "Sick Man of Europe" in 2024.
Germany's GDP growth has lagged behind other G7 industrialized countries, and this phenomenon seems to have reawakened attention to the "sick man of Europe."
As history changes, the use and meaning of the term "sick man of Europe" continues to evolve. The economic and social conditions of different countries at different times can be included in this concept. This also triggers us to rethink the label "sick man". Should we abandon the fixed concepts of the past?
But we can’t help but ask, whose turn will it be as the “Sick Man of Europe” in the future?
