Is there a crisis in Europe? Maybe, maybe not. There are low birth-rates, however. The article suggests one of the reasons in Mediterranean countries is their half-step toward modernization: More women work and have educational opportunities yet the old Catholic traditions remain in place. This produces an economic crunch on all parties involved.
Of course immigration is sometimes offered as a potential solution. However, it’s often overlooked that immigration is probably more of a threat to smaller, more stratified European societies then it can be in America. This might help explain some of the extreme rightist political support lately (where a potentially violent nationalism united with racial identity lurks).
See Also: This weekly back-and-forth between Kerry Howley (libertarian) and Kay Hymowitz (social conservative) in the L.A. Times, in which they discuss fertility, the family, American culture, low European birth-rates etc…
On This Site:
–The NY Times On Equal Parenting: When Mom And Dad Share It All
–Kay Hymowitz In The City Journal: Child-Man In The Promised Land?
