What happens when a union built on bureaucracy tries to talk tough? In this episode of Deep Dives, Professor Bill Durodié dismantles the fantasy at the heart of EU defence policy. His report, The Hollow Flag, exposes the widening gulf between security rhetoric and strategic reality.
While Ukrainians fight to defend their homeland, Brussels produces strategy documents no one reads. The EU talks about values, but avoids asking the one question that matters: who would actually fight for Europe?
Key themes:
Why EU “security” is just managerial theatre.
The crisis of democratic legitimacy in Europe.
How Ukraine revealed Brussels’ impotence.
NATO’s relevance — and why it still matters.
Patriotism, loyalty, and the meaning of defence.
0:00 – Intro: What Is “The Hollow Flag”?
1:22 – Why EU Security Lacks Public Support
3:33 – Ukraine’s Patriotism vs EU Passivity
5:06 – Would Young Europeans Ever Fight?
6:40 – Why Brussels Ignores the People
8:10 – Reactive Policy, Not Strategy
12:11 – Can NATO Save Europe?
17:13 – How to Rebuild Real Security
F
Credit to : MCC Brussels