David P. Calleo
Encyclopedia
David P. Calleo is an American
intellectual and political economist, based at the Johns Hopkins University
School of Advanced International Studies, where he holds the title of University Professor.
A noted American theorist on Europe and its future, Calleo was born in 1934 into an Italian immigrant family of humble origins (his father was a firefighter). He earned undergraduate and doctoral degrees at Yale University
, where he also served as President of the Yale Political Union
and was a member of Manuscript Society
as an undergraduate.
In his 1978 book The German Problem Reconsidered, Calleo offered a revisionist picture of Imperial Germany
, in which Calleo argued that the Second Reich was a not aggressive power, but instead a victim of the sanctimoniousness and envy of other powers. Calleo wrote that "Imperial Germany was not uniquely aggressive, only uniquely inconvenient. Whatever faults and ambitions the Germans had were amply shared by the other major nations of the modern era". Calleo asserted that because of Germany's location in Central Europe
, the Germans "lacked the space to work out their abundant vitality", and so because of Germany's geographical location, the drive and vitality of German society made them a threat to others". Calleo claimed that "Modern Germany was born encircled". Calleo claimed that there were many similarities between Imperial Germany and the United States, as both were late-comer powers characterized by huge economic growth and a certain arrogance caused by their success. Calleo argued that the key differences were that the Americans had a "continental backyard" to expand into, whereas the Germans did not. Moreover, the Germans "...lacked the Anglo-Saxon talent for cant". In this way, Calleo claimed that all of the disasters of 20th century Germany were caused by Germany's geographical circumstances".
In 2001 Calleo published a new land-mark book, Rethinking Europe's Future, where he comes back to his 1964 theme. Professor Calleo has consistently argued that Europe will turn protectionist in the face of China and other countries in order to preserve the national welfare state. A theorist of the decline of American power, Calleo sees Europe as an ally to the US but also as a friendly balance. A critic of America's "unipolar folly", Calleo fears the consequences of continued belief in a unipolar world, a dysfunctional view he believes America can correct with the help of its European allies. Calleo has also been an early critic of America's "twin deficits" with such books as "The Imperious Economy" and "The Bankrupting of America". David Calleo has been the Director of the European Studies Department at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies since 1968. He is married to Avis T. Bohlen, former ambassador and arms control expert. She is the daughter of Charles E. Bohlen
, who was Ambassador to the Soviet Union
.
Since 2011 he also acts as Advisor to Fair Observer, an online magazine covering global issues from a plurality of perspectives, on editorial issues with a focus on Europe and the US.
Calleo owns an estate on the Italian island of Elba
, where he spends his summers researching and hosting academics and other notables.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
intellectual and political economist, based at the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
School of Advanced International Studies, where he holds the title of University Professor.
A noted American theorist on Europe and its future, Calleo was born in 1934 into an Italian immigrant family of humble origins (his father was a firefighter). He earned undergraduate and doctoral degrees at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he also served as President of the Yale Political Union
Yale Political Union
The Yale Political Union , a debate society now the largest student organization at Yale University, was founded in 1934 by Professor Alfred Whitney Griswold , to enliven the university's political culture of the time. It was modelled on the Cambridge Union Society and Oxford Union...
and was a member of Manuscript Society
Manuscript Society
Manuscript Society is a senior secret society at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Toward the end of each junior year, 16 undergraduates are "tapped" to be inducted into the society, which meets twice weekly for dinner and discussion...
as an undergraduate.
In his 1978 book The German Problem Reconsidered, Calleo offered a revisionist picture of Imperial Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, in which Calleo argued that the Second Reich was a not aggressive power, but instead a victim of the sanctimoniousness and envy of other powers. Calleo wrote that "Imperial Germany was not uniquely aggressive, only uniquely inconvenient. Whatever faults and ambitions the Germans had were amply shared by the other major nations of the modern era". Calleo asserted that because of Germany's location in Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
, the Germans "lacked the space to work out their abundant vitality", and so because of Germany's geographical location, the drive and vitality of German society made them a threat to others". Calleo claimed that "Modern Germany was born encircled". Calleo claimed that there were many similarities between Imperial Germany and the United States, as both were late-comer powers characterized by huge economic growth and a certain arrogance caused by their success. Calleo argued that the key differences were that the Americans had a "continental backyard" to expand into, whereas the Germans did not. Moreover, the Germans "...lacked the Anglo-Saxon talent for cant". In this way, Calleo claimed that all of the disasters of 20th century Germany were caused by Germany's geographical circumstances".
In 2001 Calleo published a new land-mark book, Rethinking Europe's Future, where he comes back to his 1964 theme. Professor Calleo has consistently argued that Europe will turn protectionist in the face of China and other countries in order to preserve the national welfare state. A theorist of the decline of American power, Calleo sees Europe as an ally to the US but also as a friendly balance. A critic of America's "unipolar folly", Calleo fears the consequences of continued belief in a unipolar world, a dysfunctional view he believes America can correct with the help of its European allies. Calleo has also been an early critic of America's "twin deficits" with such books as "The Imperious Economy" and "The Bankrupting of America". David Calleo has been the Director of the European Studies Department at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies since 1968. He is married to Avis T. Bohlen, former ambassador and arms control expert. She is the daughter of Charles E. Bohlen
Charles E. Bohlen
Charles Eustis “Chip” Bohlen was a United States diplomat from 1929 to 1969 and Soviet expert, serving in Moscow before and during World War II, succeeding George F. Kennan as United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union , then ambassador to the Philippines , and to France...
, who was Ambassador to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Since 2011 he also acts as Advisor to Fair Observer, an online magazine covering global issues from a plurality of perspectives, on editorial issues with a focus on Europe and the US.
Calleo owns an estate on the Italian island of Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
, where he spends his summers researching and hosting academics and other notables.