THE MUNICH MEN

In: Policy review: the journal of American citizenship, Band 45, S. 14-24

Abstract

WHAT MAKES THE BLUNDERS OF THE PREWAR PERIOD, OF WHICH THE CLIMAX WAS MUNICH, SO IMPORTANT FOR THE WESTERN CONSCIENCE TO RETAIN IS THAT ALL THE INSTINCTS THAT THEN ELICITED THE POLICY OF APPEASEMENT REMAIN ALIVE IN THE WESTERN DEMOCRACIES TODAY. AMONG THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE PREWAR PERIOD AND TODAY THAT OUGHT TO DISTURB US ARE FOUR IN PARTICULAR: A DOUBLE STANDARD REGARDING THE USE OF FORCE, BY WHICH RADICALS ARE PERMITTED TO EMPLOY FORCE TO GAIN THEIR ENDS WHILE DEMOCRATIC ELEMENTS THAT OPPOSE THEM ARE ENJOINED TO RELY ON WORDS ALONE; A FAITH IN ARMS CONTROL TREATIES, WHOSE EFFECT IS TO INHIBIT DEFENSE SPENDING BY THE DEMOCRACIES, BUT NOT BY THEIR ADVERSARY, WHOSE POLICIES ARE THE CAUSE OF OUR REQUIRING HIGH DEFENSE BUDGETS IN THE FIRST PLACE; ATTITUDES OF INDIFFERENCE OR EXPEDIENCY TOWARD ALLIES FIGHTING FOR THEIR FREEDOM; AND FAITH IN PERSONAL DIPLOMACY OVER ESTABLISHED PRINCIPLES OF STATESMANSHIP IN A HARSH WORLD OF POWER RELATIONS.