Regionalism and the EU Flashcards
Define regionalism
Where multiple states in a particular geographical area form organisations to work together towards a specific goal
Define economic regionalism
Regionalism which is based on the pursuit of integrated financial systems or improved trades, through means such as common standards on goods/services or reducing tariffs. Nearly every country in the world is now a member of at least one regional trade bloc (the UK is a notable exception)
Define security regionalism
Regionalism which is based on the pursuit of peace and the enforcement of security within a particular geographical area or collective security from a common external threat
Define political regionalism
Regionalism which is based on the protection of common values within a bloc of states and the enhancement of those states’ political standing and diplomatic weight in international politics
Development of the EU in key dates
1951 - ECSC was created as a supranational institution to increase cooperation (and reduce the risk of war) in Europe
1957 - Treaty of Rome signed, creating the EEC based on the ‘four freedoms’ of the single market
1973 - UK joined
1985 - Schengen Agreement signed
1986 - Single European Act signed
1992 - Maastricht Treaty signed, creating the European Union
2007 - Treaty of Lisbon signed
2016 - Brexit
Define intergovernmentalism
Governments come together to come up with mutually beneficial agreements, but their sovereignty remains intact
Define supranationalism
A regional organisation makes decisions and imposes them on its member states, diminishing state sovereignty
Explain how the EU has created peace and security
The EU has been very successful in preventing conflict between member states
The creation of the ECSC lessened threat of conflict between France and Germany over the Ruhr valley
The EU has a clear mission to promote liberal democracy and freedom (Kantian triangle) as states have to be a functioning democracy to join (which is why states like Turkey have yet to join)
The EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 for its contribution to peace, democracy and human rights in Europe
How does the EU act as an economic union?
The core of the EU project has been the deepening of economic and monetary integration between its member states. In 2002, the first regional shared currency came into operation with the creation of the Euro.
Treaty of Rome established the EEC on the basis of ‘four freedoms’ of movement (of people, goods, capital and services)
The ECB has the power to set monetary policy for Eurozone members
e.g. in 2012, the European Fiscal Compact was signed requiring all states to keep their national budgets in balance or in surplus (in response to 2008 financial crisis)
Explain how the EU acts as a political and social union
The European Social Fund gives money to projects aiming, for example, to reduce unemployment (which accounts for around 10% of the EU budget). The EU has also created a series of ‘directives’ on social policy like working hours and unemployment rights.
Explain how the EU acts as a judicial and policing union
The EU has introduced close cooperation on justice and policing matters between member states
e.g. the European Arrest Warrant allows for a police force in one member state to issue an arrest warrant for a police force in any other member state to act upon (e.g. Italian police were able to arrest somebody for a terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Berlin)
ECJ acts as a common judiciary between member states
Explain how the EU has acted to ensure human rights
The EU has long been an advocate of human rights - e.g. in 2000, the EU enacted its Charter of Fundamental Rights which sets out the specific rights that should be in place for all EU citizens
In 1992, the EU established the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)
However, it has often been criticised for lacking the means to intervene militarily to uphold human rights (e.g. did not play a major role in resolving the conflict in the former Yugoslavia in 1995)
It often works closely with NGOs and currently has a strong presence in Syria, among other regions
How does the EU act to protect the environment?
The EU has been at the forefront of global efforts to protect the environment. (e.g. the EU reduced carbon emissions by 8% by adhering to the Kyoto protocol)
The creation of trade laws as part of the Single Market has allowed the EU to develop laws to protect the environment
e.g. EU member states have legally binding targets on reducing emissions and developing renewable energy technology
Has used its observer status at the G20 to promote environmental causes on the international stage
How has the EU acted against poverty?
The EU has been a significant global actor in encouraging development.
It is the world’s largest aid donor - in 2015, it provided $15.56 billion in development aid (to cover everything from infrastructure development to humanitarian aid)
However, some have criticised the CAP for making it difficult for farmers in developing states to sell to the EU
Impact of the Schengen agreement
In 2004, there were 167,000 EU citizens living in the UK. By 2017, this had risen to 1,444,000
Arguably contributed to the rise of right-wing populist parties like the AfD (who won 12.6% of votes in the 2017 Bundestag elections). In 2018, Orban was reelected on a nationalist and anti-immigrant manifesto
Debate about EU legitimacy?
Turnout to 2014 EU Parliament election was only 43% (however, this is arguably the fault of nation states themselves for allowing voter apathy)
Unelected bureaucracy? - 33,000 civil servants employed by EU (however, British government employs over 400,000 civil servants)
How much money did the EU lend to Greece during the 2008 financial crisis?
An excess of 260 billion euros (on the condition that Greece implemented fiscal reform - e.g. 1/4 of public sector jobs lost)
Explain the relationship between regionalism and globalisation
Debate about whether regionalism works with or against globalisation.
Building block - enhances globalisation by compartmentalising the globe (e.g. EU as a whole represented at UN, G20 and G7), regionalism organises states into groups with similar goals making global governance more efficient, outwardly looking regional blocs are simply conglomerations of states acting together on the world stage
Stumbling block - inwardly looking regional blocs display a ‘regional egoism’ , regional blocs may implement protectionist policies that impinge the free movement of global trade
Explain the prospects for political regionalism and regional governance
Political regionalism has clear ramifications for governance at a state, regional and global level. Political regionalism has seen the rise of regional governance, to the extent that some blocs can now be seen as almost federal.
Explain regionalism’s impact on state sovereignty
Regionalism has had a clear impact on state sovereignty, but the extent of this depends on how regionalism is conducted. If regionalism is predominantly intergovernmental, then the impact on sovereignty is minimal.
States can ultimately choose to leave supranational agreements, maintaining sovereignty
Profile: Arab League
Membership: founded with 7 members in 1945 and has since expanded to 22 members
Role/objectives: initial aim was to ‘draw closer the relations between member states’ (political regionalism)
Structure: entirely intergovernmental. Each member state has one vote in the League Council and decisions are only binding for those states that have voted for them
Successes: in 2011, the AL agreed to suspend Syria because of Assad’s crimes against humanity. In 1997, the AL created the GAFTA as a free trade zone (all AL member states are members of GAFTA or in the process of applying to join)
Failures: split over the Gulf War in 1991 and has been unable to mediate a resolution to the conflict in Syria
