Post on 12-Jan-2016
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Geopolitics & Supranationalism
What is Geopolitics?Organic TheoryLebensraumHeartland TheoryRimland TheorySupranationalism & EU
How do Geopolitics Help us Understand the World?
“Geopolitics is the interplay among geography, power, politics, and international relations. Geopolitics brings locational considerations, environmental contexts, territorial perspectives, and spatial assumptions to the
fore.” -- de Blij 262
Geopoltics fit into two categories: German School: explanation why certain states are
powerful and how to be become powerful British/American School: offers strategic advice for
states and explains why countries interact at the global scale the way they do
Critical Geopolitics
Ideas of intellectuals of statecraft about places Influence and reinforce their political behaviors
and policy choices Less about prediction
Affect how ordinary people process notions of places and politics
For example: Cold War was ‘us’ v. ‘them’ ‘us’ equals pro-democracy, independent, self-
sufficient and free ‘them’ equals in some way all things opposite
Ratzel’s Organic State Theory
Organic Theory: Friedrich Ratzel Based on Darwin’s theories of evolution Need of a state for territory and overseas
connections in order to survive Described expansion of empires and large
states in the 19th century Eventually contributed to Nazi expansion
Mackinder’s Heartland Theory
Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland
Who rules the Heartland commands the World Island
Who rules the World Island commands the world
What Are Supranational Organizations?
Supranational organization: A separate entity composed of three or more states that forge an association and form an administrative structure for mutual benefit in pursuit of shared goals
Examples: European Union United Nations WTO (World Trade Organization) OPEC (Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries)
A European Timeline
Shortly after WWII: Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Lux) 1947: OEEC (Organization for European Economic Cooperation) 1951: ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community) Belgium, W.
Germany, France, Italy Luxembourg & Netherlands 1957: EEC (European Economic Community) Treaty of Rome- consisted
of Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Italy 1973: EC (European Community) Ireland, UK and Denmark Custom duties were abolished between all states in 1977 1981: Greece became a member 1986: Spain and Portugal became member of EC 1992: EU (European Union) Treaty of Maastricht 1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden joined EU 1999: Euro introduced in circulation 2004: EU expanded to include Cyprus, Malta, Czech Rep., Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia 2007: two new members, Romania and Bulgaria join Union
What is Unique about EU?
It is not a state, nor a simple organization of states (unique in this regard)
EU has multifaceted gov’t structure; three capitals (Brussels, Strasbourg, Frankfurt & the Hague) and billions in monetary flow
EU extends into foreign relations, domestic issues, military policies States have sovereignty within the EU, but must abide by EU
guidelines in order to remain a participant in the EU EU membership is optional, but has proven to be highly sought
after There is no Constitution, but a Treaty (Treaty of Lisbon 2007) that
binds member states to set standard of laws by 2009 Parliament would be given more leeway in proposing and changing
laws A Day in the Life of a Parliamentary Member
€ 2012
€ 2009
€ 2011
The EU Parliament
Lisbon Treaty
Member Nations of the European UnionMember Nations of the European Union
1957blue
1973green
1981red
1986yellow
1995orange
2004purple
2007lavender
Europe
Atlantic Ocean
Faroe Islands(Denmark)
Norwegian Sea
Iceland
SwedenFinland
Norway
Poland
Czech Rep.
Hungary
Slovakia
Romania
Ukraine
Russia
Belarus
Moldova
U.K.Ireland
Spain
Germany
France
Belgium
Neth.
Lux.
Italy
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Russia
BulgariaSerbia
Alb.
Bos.& Herz.
Mont.
Greece
Portugal
Turkey
Cyprus
Mace.
Croatia
Slovenia
Austria
Liech.
San Marino
Monaco
MaltaTunisiaAlgeriaMorocco
Switz.
Denmark
Mediterranean Sea
Greenland(Denmark) Jan Mayen
(Norway)
Reaction Prompt:
Based on your understanding of ‘how the EU works’ from what is being discussed and read, determine the level of sovereignty each member state has. Is the European Union good for Europe? Provide in-depth reasoning.