It is easy to dismiss this as typical British chauvinism – the insular attitude of a people living in splendid isolation. But, in Britain’s defense, its citizens have had a longer and more successful democratic history than have most continental Europeans.
英国较激进的欧元怀疑论者就是这么想的，他们一开始就没有追逐欧盟的梦想。很容易将这视为典型的英国沙文主义——与世隔绝的民族的偏狭态度——从而不屑一顾。但是，英国人辩护说，其公民享有的民主历史比大多数欧洲人更长、更成功。