It collapsed on May 8, 1945, and was replaced by a system based on mutual trust, solidarity, the rule of law, and compromise. But, with the crisis eroding these foundations, trust is giving way to mistrust, solidarity is succumbing to ancient prejudices (and even new hatred between the poor south and the rich north), and compromise is being overwhelmed by diktat.
欧洲原有政治秩序的基础是竞争、不信任、权力斗争和作为终极表现形式的主权国战争。旧的政治秩序在1945年5月8日一朝崩溃，代之以互信、团结、法治和妥协为主导的制度。但由于金融危机的侵蚀，信任正逐渐让位于怀疑、团结正屈服于古老的偏见（甚至是贫困的南欧和富足的北欧间新的仇恨），妥协被苛刻的命令所取代。德国再次被推到了欧洲解体进程的风口浪尖。