In this post I tried to use ChatGPT to help me turn an idea into an essay. The idea is that Europe is using copium when it deals with its greatest challenges, particularly in geopolitics. According to Merriam Webster, copium is “a slang term for denial or rationalization in the face of defeat or failure. It is presented as a metaphorical drug people take when dealing with losing a game or otherwise being disappointed.” The term is widely used as a meme, particularly in social media conversations such as on X (formerly Twitter). The concept is often present in meme form in online conversation regarding geopolitics, when a losing side is trying to explain defeat with self-reassuring fantasies in order to avoid facing hard truths.
Today, Europe as a whole, and the European Union in particular, is facing existential challenges. “Existential challenges” seems to be a phrase often found in tandem with Europe in the last decade. My reasoning is that these challenges have not been stared in the face by Europe’s political establishment and, to some degree, by its societies, and this in itself adds to Europe downfall. We need to clearly flesh out the stories that we tell ourselves about Europe to feel better in a doggy dog geopolitical world. We need to think outside the feel good box in order to preserve our European way of life.
I gave ChatGPT three instructions in Romanian (see below) to develop the idea and to write the essay in English. The final instruction adds a stylistic layer by requesting the text to have the style of the New Yorker. For me personally, what I like about their essays is the how they seem to be snippets from unwritten novels, rich, depth texts that also have a charming lightlessness to them that carries you to the final paragraph. Also, the New Yorker is known to lean heavily to the left. To be progressive, liberal, maybe to liberal for some. This critique of the style is well captured by Rjurik Davidson in the Overland magazine (itself a heavily progressive, left-leaning Australian magazine): “The source of this pliancy surely lies in the New Yorker’s impeccable liberalism. In the softness of its discourse – a worldview where all perspectives should be heard, all opinions countenanced – particular or strident views ring harshly. In some strange dialectical inversion, its very openness results in the exclusion of certain positions. The liberalism of the New Yorker thus exhibits all the greatness and all the flaws of that ideology: the sense of vast erudition and ‘civilization’, and its amorphousness. Nothing is ever stated or argued. No position taken, except in some vague circumlocutory way.”
Ultimately, for me, the final text reflects the gist of my idea and it is something that I could adhere to and could expand on in debate but it doesn’t reflect my views completely. For example, the text is to critical to sanctions policy. Also, it is quite harsh to Europe in general but then again, maybe this is just the copium crave in me speaking. Maybe this is just the way the AI seems to emphasize the need to stop ignoring the problems we have in Europe and start making tough decisions.
What is impressive and has the potential to be transformative for the analytical/intelligence community is how fast a deliverable was available from idea inception to end product. Of course, this is a general essay, not really having real research depth, but it is a good example on how analysts from different fields and industries could use AI as a tool to encourage creativity, idea generation and testing, expanding the public debate on different topics, in this case the European Union’s geopolitical role in the world.
Written instructions to Chat GPT:
- Ajută-mă să scriu in eseu in engleza despre ideea de copium si geopolitica. Help me write an essay in English about the idea of copium and geopolitics
- Pastreaza ideile si exemplele si dezvolta ce ai zis despre geopolitica pe exemplu Uniunii Europene. Keep the ideas and examples and expand what you said about geopolitics by giving the European Union as an example
- Pastreaza ideile si exemplele dar ajusteaza textul schimband titlul in Breaking the Habit. Europe needs to stop using copium. Sa fie in stilul unui articol din New Yorker. Keep the ideas and examples but adjust the text by changing the title into “Breaking the Habit. Europe needs to stop using copium.” Make it in the style of the New Yorker.
Cover image DALL-E instructions:
- could you generate a cool cover image for this article?
- ChatGPT Sure! I’ll generate a compelling cover image that visually represents the theme of copium in European geopolitics. The image will feature:
- A stylized map of Europe, with parts of it fading into smoke or mist, symbolizing the illusion of control.
- A gas mask or an opium pipe subtly integrated into the composition, representing copium.
- European Union stars breaking apart or distorted, illustrating internal fragmentation.
- A slightly dystopian or surreal aesthetic to match the critical tone of the article.
Text generated with the help of ChatGPT:
Breaking the Habit: Europe Needs to Stop Using Copium
Some habits are harmless—biting your nails, doomscrolling before bed, eating that extra slice of cake. Others, like copium, can shape the destiny of entire nations. A fusion of cope and opium, the term has evolved from internet meme to a surprisingly useful lens for analyzing global politics. Nations use copium to justify strategic blunders, prolong failed policies, and reassure their citizens that everything is fine—when it clearly isn’t.
Europe, for all its sophistication, is one of the biggest addicts. The European Union loves to present itself as a geopolitical heavyweight, a moral leader, a model for the world. Yet, its actions often betray a reliance on comforting illusions rather than hard reality. From its belief in “strategic autonomy” to its idealistic approach to climate policy, the EU has spent years indulging in copium. But in a world defined by hard power and economic competition, the time for self-deception is running out.
Strategic Autonomy: A Pipe Dream
For years, European leaders have pushed the idea of “strategic autonomy”—the vision of a self-sufficient Europe that can stand on its own two feet in defense and global affairs. It sounds good. Who wouldn’t want a strong, independent EU, capable of acting without relying on the United States? The problem? It’s largely a fantasy.
The reality is that Europe remains deeply dependent on NATO, which is just a polite way of saying “the U.S. military.” Despite endless discussions about creating a unified European army, defense budgets remain fragmented, military capabilities uneven, and political will inconsistent. When war broke out in Ukraine, it wasn’t Brussels calling the shots—it was Washington. The EU’s strategy? Follow America’s lead. That’s not autonomy; it’s deference, wrapped in a narrative of unity.
The Myth of Unshakable Unity
If Europe has learned anything from the past decade, it’s that the idea of a politically unified continent is, at best, aspirational. Brexit was the first major crack in the façade, showing that even a major power like the UK could simply walk away. But the real problem isn’t just external exits—it’s the growing internal fragmentation.
Hungary and Poland have repeatedly clashed with Brussels over rule-of-law issues, immigration policies, and democratic backsliding. Southern European countries, still scarred from the Eurozone crisis, remain skeptical of Northern Europe’s economic dominance. And let’s not forget the ongoing debates over migration, energy policy, and economic reform—issues that reveal just how fragile EU unity really is.
Yet, despite these obvious tensions, European leaders continue to act as if the EU is an unbreakable force. It’s a classic case of copium—pretending divisions don’t exist instead of addressing them head-on.
Green Dreams vs. Energy Realities
If there’s one area where European copium is most visible, it’s in energy policy. The EU has positioned itself as a leader in the fight against climate change, setting ambitious goals for carbon neutrality, phasing out fossil fuels, and pushing for a rapid transition to renewables. In theory, it’s an inspiring vision. In practice, it’s a high-stakes gamble with economic and geopolitical consequences.
Take Germany, for example. The country proudly shut down its last nuclear power plants in the name of environmental responsibility—only to find itself scrambling for alternative energy sources when Russia cut off gas supplies. The result? A temporary return to coal, skyrocketing energy prices, and a reliance on imports from countries with far worse environmental records.
The broader EU approach to energy is similarly flawed. While officials talk about “energy independence,” Europe remains deeply dependent on Chinese solar panels, rare earth materials, and American liquefied natural gas (LNG). The idea that Europe can become fully self-sufficient while phasing out fossil fuels at record speed is, at least for now, pure copium.
The Illusion of Effective Sanctions
When Russia invaded Ukraine, the EU responded with an unprecedented package of economic sanctions. The assumption was simple: hit Russia’s economy hard enough, and Vladimir Putin would be forced to retreat. It was a bold move, but also one that overestimated Europe’s power and underestimated Moscow’s adaptability.
To be clear, the sanctions have hurt Russia—just not in the way Europe expected. The ruble initially collapsed but later stabilized. Russia redirected energy exports to China and India. Western companies left, but local replacements quickly emerged. Meanwhile, European economies—especially Germany and Italy—felt the sting of their own sanctions in the form of inflation and energy shortages.
The idea that Europe could cripple Russia without significant blowback was a classic case of geopolitical copium—a belief that moral superiority and economic pressure would be enough to shift the course of war. But geopolitics is rarely that simple.
Breaking the Habit
Europe doesn’t need more copium—it needs a reality check. The world is changing fast. The U.S. is pivoting towards Asia, China is expanding its influence, and wars are reshaping the balance of power. The EU cannot afford to indulge in comforting illusions if it wants to remain relevant.
This means confronting hard truths:
- Strategic autonomy isn’t possible without serious military investment and political alignment.
- Unity cannot be taken for granted—internal divisions must be addressed, not ignored.
- Green policies need to be pragmatic, balancing sustainability with economic and energy security.
- Sanctions should be crafted with a clear understanding of their real impact, not just their symbolic value.
Europe has a choice: continue to rely on copium, or start making the tough decisions necessary for real geopolitical strength. One path leads to irrelevance. The other leads to resilience. The time to choose is now.
