Ex-SecState Henry Kissinger wrote in Diplomacy that (I don't have the book with me, so I can't quote) balances of power forged solely around the concept of interest and power are doomed to fail; a successful equilibrium must incorporate common values. Nineteenth century Europe, Mr Kissinger argued, incorporated that successfully in the post-Napoleanic Wars system.

That makes this project much more than just cursorily interesting --

http://www.economist.com/blogs/certainideasofeurope/2008/11/digital_delights_for_culture_v.cfm

and the main website

http://dev.europeana.eu/home.php

The project aims to digitize European culture and civilization. The site was shut down a day after the launch because 13m users -- an overwhelming and unanticipated amount of interest -- flooded the system.

Beyond the value this poses to students and art aficionados, Europana is indicative of the EU's continuing attempt to link all of Europe's states together. I wrote previously that the idea of self-interest had to evolve to mean cooperation if states intend to combat new threats (of which global warming and terrorism are just a few examples); the EU epitomizes not only this vision of self-interest, but also an understanding that statesmen must share a similar vision. The EU's constitution did little to cement that vision or come to an understanding of European values.

Europana is a start. European culture may be diverse, but the Western peoples all share a common heritage in the wars they fought, the disasters they've suffered, the scientific and industrial flourishing, and the art or literature that reflects all of that.

Can the world look to the Union as a model for transnational cooperation? The future will tell. But the two-pronged approach of appealing to national interest and forging common values is a promising and hopeful start.