Unit 3: EU And Regionalism Flashcards
Define Regionalism:
The theory or practice of coordinating social, economic, or political activities within a geographical region comprising a number of states.
Define Intergovermentalism:
Any form of interaction between states that takes place on the basis of sovereign independence, cooperation amongst sovereign states.
Focuses on the importance of member states in the process, for example, of creating EU wide regulations
Define supranationalism:
The existence of an authority that is ‘higher’ than that of the nation state and capable of imposing its will on it, it can therefore be found in international organisations where sovereignty is shared between bodies. For example, the European Union
Define Subsidiarity:
Principle that a central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing on,y those tasks which cannot be performed at a more local level.
Define internal sovereignty:
Supreme authority within one’s territory
Define external sovereignty:
Concerns the relationship between a sovereign power and other states
What is economic regionalism:
Refers to the creation of greater economic opportunities through cooperation among states in the same geographical region.
Examples of economic regionalism:
Primary form of regional integration, manifested in the growth of regional trade blocs and the deepening of existing trade blocs. This surge has continued, therefore by 2005, only one WTO member - Mongolia, was not party to a regional trade agreement (RTA)
What is security regionalism:
Refers to the forms of cooperation designed to protect states from their enemies, both neighbouring and distant ones.
Examples of security regionalism:
Regional integration may give rise to a ‘security community’. This is due to the fact regional bodies seek to enmesh their members with a ‘system of peace through cooperation’, in which ever deeper levels of interdependence and integration, particularly over economic matters, make war between member states unthinkable. Eg the EU
Security regionalism is also evident in the global trend in favour of regional peacekeeping.
Define political regionalism:
Refers to attempts by states in the same area to strengthen or protect shared values, thereby enhancing their image and reputation and gaining a more powerful diplomatic voice.
Examples of political regionalism:
Political regionalism significant factor in the construction of organisations such as the council of Europe, which was created in 1949 with the aim of creating a common democratic and legal area throughout the continent of Europe, ensuring respect of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Arab League was formed in 1945 to ‘draw closer the relations between the member states and coordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty.’
Arguments regionalism is a building block to globalisation:
Argue regionalism and globalisation are effectively the same thing. Say that the increasing interconnectedness of nation-states that this is reflected within regional organisations.
Many regional organisations such as NAFTA have embraced free trade and the free movement of capital that goes alongside this. Idea that as markets open up around the world, the only way of remaining competitive is to do the same in their own regions.
Regionalism is therefore simply a reflection of globalisation, with the particular region in question perhaps providing simply the most appropriate level for reconciling an accommodation of the global capitalist system with need for political regulation and management.
Arguments regionalism is a stumbling block to globalisation:
Argue that regionalism is a response to globalisation. Argue that regional integration has proceeded apace in recent years precisely because globalisation has speed up and that the nation states are effectively looking for safety to shield themselves from the the unpredictable forces of the global economy.
EU’s Common Agricultural Policy takes up half the EU budget subsiding European farmers from cheaper overseas imports. Some say that this does not represent the global free market many equate with globalisation but rather a form of protectionism.
As with economic matters, regionalism may be providing nation-states with a means of protecting their economic and political interests in a globalising world.
Why was the EU formed in the first place?
Formed following WW2 as aimed that an ever closer economic ties would make sure that century old enemies never turned on each other again
How did the idea of a united Europe start in 1950?
May 9, 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schumann proposed that France and the Federal Republic of Germany pool their coal and steel resources in a new organisation that other European countries could join
Why is war between France and Germany now unthinkable?
Reliant on each other
Mutual confidence
What conditions does the EU demand of new members?
Democratic conditions
Three main theories of regionalism:
Federalism
Functionalism
Neofunctionalism
What is federalism:
Earliest theory of regional or even global integration
Relies on a process of conscious decision making by elites - attraction is that they appear to offer a solution to the problems of the state-system and especially the problem of war.
What is functionalism:
View that cooperation only works when it is focused on specific activities (functions) that would be performed more effectively through collective action than by individual states
What is neofunctionalism:
Idea recognises the limitations of the traditionalist functionalist idea that integration is largely determined by recognition of growing interdependence in economic and other areas
Places greater emphasis on the interplay between economics and politics
What is new regionalism?
Substantial increase in the regionally based cooperation among states during the 1990s - creating a new regionalism
What is NAFTA?
North American Free Trade Association
