Well you'll find that a history of being the "superpower(s)" and then wasting it all by bombing the crap out of ourselves results in a slightly different point of view in the world (from the EU).<p>Empire building was Europe's "sense of mission and purpose in the world" we made the natives "civilised". It was our belief of divine right and our ridiculous optimism in regards to war and "glory" (it will be over by Christmas) that led (in part) to our downfall.