ABSTRACT
The Italians, who in their speeches mention Europe more often than anyone else, continue not to pull their weight in the Community. Educational systems remain national, and the small European University Institute, stranded above Florence in its lovely renovated monastery, is awaiting the day when higher education will be rescued from national bureaucrats, pressure groups, and routines. The West Europeans know their weaknesses; they are masters of self-criticism, and they would like to be able to concentrate on the threats. Specific strategic disagreements have sharpened the perception of the West Europeans as demanding and whining free-riders. In the realm of nuclear weapons, both varieties of West European criticisms have provoked indignation. Some American strategists believe that sensible strategy could have a nuclear component, in the form of accurate discriminating counterforce weapons. But most Europeans doubt that such a war could be controlled.
