If aliens were to visit Earth, Peter Sloterdijk recommends Europe as their landing site because that’s where the aliens would find the most peaceful corner of the planet.1 In his recently published book on Europe, The Continent Without Qualities [Der Kontinent ohne Eigenschaften], he suggests that, while the U.S. has been pursuing imperial ways of thinking for 100 years and “the Russian demon has reawakened after a period of suspended animation,” Europe has gone through the entire course of imperialism and has now stepped out of world history with a “tragic consciousness” [tragischen Bewusstsein.]2 Unlike China, which is playing its imperial cards economically, and the Middle East, where powers are eyeing expansion, Europe has been cured of the desire to possess.
But now—as the world grows ever more closely connected—global events are catching up with Europe. Europe, which had been detached from world history as if on vacation, is now experiencing the end of its holidays. This is how the philosophical poet Sloterdijk describes it, and, he continues: it feels as though Europe has arrived at the point of heading home. To stay with the metaphor: Europe, having arrived in the lowlands of power politics and special interests, is tasked with preserving its holiday experience—its peacefulness—in the harsh realities of everyday life. Yes, Europe must take the initiative.
Translation Laura Liska
Image The statue of Saint Vladimir in Kyiv in 2022, covered to protect it from Russian bombs. Photo: Maksym Pozniak Haraburda
Footnotes
- Peter Sloterdijk, “To those who have, all shall be given.” In: European Voices 6/25.
- Peter Sloterdijk, The Continent Without Qualities: Bookmarks in the Book of Europe, Polity, out in October 2026.
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