Postwar settlements & the origins of the European Union

National Conference 2008National Conference 2008January 17-19 at Memorial UniversityJanuary 17-19 at Memorial University

““Federalism - Is It Working?”Federalism - Is It Working?”•Guest Speakers (such as John Crosbie, Clyde Wells, Ryan Cleary)Guest Speakers (such as John Crosbie, Clyde Wells, Ryan Cleary)•Panel DiscussionsPanel Discussions•Social Events- Screech-In for visiting students, Pub Crawl, BanquetSocial Events- Screech-In for visiting students, Pub Crawl, Banquet•Delegate Package- t-shirt, scarf, bag, 3 meals and surprises! Delegate Package- t-shirt, scarf, bag, 3 meals and surprises! •Student delegates from 8 provincesStudent delegates from 8 provinces

•Just $50 for MUN students! All are welcome!Just $50 for MUN students! All are welcome!•Registration Forms can be picked up/dropped off at the POSC office (SN Registration Forms can be picked up/dropped off at the POSC office (SN 2028)2028)•Sign our email list for more information! Sign our email list for more information!

Understanding European Politics

Factors: Factors: • Institutions and structuresInstitutions and structures• CleavagesCleavages• Political forcesPolitical forces• The past: The past:

– Does not necessarily shape the present (path Does not necessarily shape the present (path dependency), dependency),

– Does throw up problems & choices, Does throw up problems & choices, parameters…parameters…

Wars & depression as crucibleWars & depression as crucible

• Dirty thirties & the expansion & elaboration Dirty thirties & the expansion & elaboration of welfare statesof welfare states

• WW II as interlude for planning, reflection, WW II as interlude for planning, reflection, learning, institution-building, e.glearning, institution-building, e.g– Beveridge report in UKBeveridge report in UK– Detention camps & resistance movements Detention camps & resistance movements

produce new produce new élan, determination not to repeat élan, determination not to repeat the pastthe past

– Designs for postwar economic orderDesigns for postwar economic order

Products:Products:

• New economic & political structuresNew economic & political structures– Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange ratesBretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates– GATT (later WTO)GATT (later WTO)– United NationsUnited Nations– OECDOECD– Council of EuropeCouncil of Europe– EUEU

• New policies & practicesNew policies & practices– Keynsian welfare state (KWS) Keynsian welfare state (KWS)

• Demand management (from John Meynard KeynesDemand management (from John Meynard Keynes• Expansion & elaboration of welfare statesExpansion & elaboration of welfare states

– From 1960s onward: unprecedented affluence & an end to zero-From 1960s onward: unprecedented affluence & an end to zero-sum politicssum politics

Shaping postwar EuropeShaping postwar Europe

• Not everything turns out as intendedNot everything turns out as intended• Successes & failures of ‘breakthrough’ efforts, Successes & failures of ‘breakthrough’ efforts,

e.g.e.g.– NetherlandsNetherlands– France France

• Fate of Germany: Fate of Germany: – Earlier intent: to return Germany to agrarian past, Earlier intent: to return Germany to agrarian past,

eliminating capacity to make war, cf. JCS 1040, eliminating capacity to make war, cf. JCS 1040, Morgenthau PlanMorgenthau Plan

– Instead: partition, reconstruction & reindustrializationInstead: partition, reconstruction & reindustrialization• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/europe/02/euro_borders/html/2.stm

Building the EUBuilding the EU

• Diverse efforts to unite Europe:Diverse efforts to unite Europe:– Spinelli & European federalistsSpinelli & European federalists– Pressure from the United StatesPressure from the United States– ChurchillChurchill– Brussels & Hague conferences (1948)Brussels & Hague conferences (1948)– Jean Monnet & Robert SchumanJean Monnet & Robert Schuman

• Outcomes - Multiple institutionsOutcomes - Multiple institutions– OEEC (forerunner of OECD)OEEC (forerunner of OECD)– Council of Europe (1948)Council of Europe (1948)– NATO (1949)NATO (1949)– European Coal & Steel Community (ECSC) & European Coal & Steel Community (ECSC) &

eventually EEC & European Union (`1951)eventually EEC & European Union (`1951)

Actual originsActual origins

• Cold war & partition of GermanyCold war & partition of Germany– Need for West Germany to re-industrializeNeed for West Germany to re-industrialize– Need to do so in a way acceptable to FranceNeed to do so in a way acceptable to France

• Jean Monnet & the Jean Monnet & the Schuman planSchuman plan– Establish a transnational institutions – a high Establish a transnational institutions – a high

authority and a representative assembly – to authority and a representative assembly – to govern a key structuregovern a key structure

– Neo-functionalism: expectation that success Neo-functionalism: expectation that success in one sector will produce spillovers to othersin one sector will produce spillovers to others

Uniting Europe in fits and startsUniting Europe in fits and starts

• ECSC established in 1951ECSC established in 1951• Failure of European Defense Community Failure of European Defense Community ((1951-531951-53))• Euratom & European Economic Community Euratom & European Economic Community

(EEC) in 1956(EEC) in 1956• Amalgamation: European CommunityAmalgamation: European Community• Single European Act (SEA 1985)Single European Act (SEA 1985)• Maastrict Treaty (1991) & formation of the Maastrict Treaty (1991) & formation of the

European UnionEuropean Union• Schengen – end of border controlsSchengen – end of border controls• Euro & Eurozone 11 (2001)Euro & Eurozone 11 (2001)

EnlargementsEnlargements

• The six: The six: – France, Germany, Italy, BeneluxFrance, Germany, Italy, Benelux

• First enlargement, 1973First enlargement, 1973– UK, Ireland, DenmarkUK, Ireland, Denmark

• From 9 to 12From 9 to 12– Greece (1981), Spain, Portugal (1986)Greece (1981), Spain, Portugal (1986)

• From 12 to 15: Austria, Finland, SwedenFrom 12 to 15: Austria, Finland, Sweden• From 15 to 25 & 27: East Central EuropeFrom 15 to 25 & 27: East Central Europe• Holdouts: Norway & SwitzerlandHoldouts: Norway & Switzerlandhttp://europa.eu/abc/maps/index_en.htm

The EU & its institutionsThe EU & its institutions

• Transnational structures:Transnational structures:– The European Commission (Monnet’s High Authority)The European Commission (Monnet’s High Authority)– The European ParliamentThe European Parliament

• Monnet’s representative assemblyMonnet’s representative assembly• Directly elected since 1979Directly elected since 1979

– The European Court of JusticeThe European Court of Justice

• Intergovernmental structures:Intergovernmental structures:– The Council of MinistersThe Council of Ministers– The European Council The European Council

How Europe operatesHow Europe operates

• Monnet methodMonnet method– Integration via small steps, agenda setting, elites Integration via small steps, agenda setting, elites

reaching agreementreaching agreement

• The Commission as agenda-setter (in good The Commission as agenda-setter (in good times)times)

• The European Parliament and the Council of The European Parliament and the Council of Ministers as legislative branchesMinisters as legislative branches

• The European Council as fixerThe European Council as fixer• The European Court of Justice – builds Europe The European Court of Justice – builds Europe

by asserting the primacy of EU lawby asserting the primacy of EU law

Strains and tensionsStrains and tensions

• Among EU institutions:Among EU institutions:– Commission v. Council of Ministers & Commission v. Council of Ministers &

European CouncilEuropean Council– European Parliament v. Council of MinistersEuropean Parliament v. Council of Ministers

• Among member-states: disagreement Among member-states: disagreement about a wider or deeper Europeabout a wider or deeper Europe

• Between citizens & elites: how much Between citizens & elites: how much Europe is neededEurope is needed

Bottom linesBottom lines

• Continued affluence – but not for everyoneContinued affluence – but not for everyone• Loss of direction & momentum Loss of direction & momentum • European Constitutional ConventionEuropean Constitutional Convention

– Drafts Constitutional TreatyDrafts Constitutional Treaty– Torpedoed by 2005 French & Dutch referendaTorpedoed by 2005 French & Dutch referenda– 2007 Berlin accord, Lisbon treaty =salvage operations2007 Berlin accord, Lisbon treaty =salvage operations

• EU nevertheless very much present:EU nevertheless very much present:– supremacy of European law over national lawsupremacy of European law over national law– EU an arena in which all member-states must operateEU an arena in which all member-states must operate