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The Evolution of European Integration and Transformation: A Historical Perspective

Explore the journey of European integration, from post-WWII economic and political union to the challenges and successes of the European Community/Union. Delve into factors driving integration, historical roots, and phases of stagnation and acceleration. Discover key events like the collapse of the Soviet Union, reunification of Germany, and disintegration of Yugoslavia. Examine emerging cleavages, party politics in the 1980s to 1990s, and the shift towards social democracy. Reflect on Europe's role in the world, post-modern sovereignty, and the future of this evolving continent.

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The Evolution of European Integration and Transformation: A Historical Perspective

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  1. How Europe changed http://www.ena.lu/

  2. European Integration • What is integration? • Economic • Political • What is the European Community/Union? • A federation in the making • A type of macro-regional regime or better international governance

  3. Factors in European Integration • Solving French-German problem • Different domestic calculations both economic and political • Role of ‘crisis’

  4. History of the European Community/Union • No linear, teleological, unfolding • Deep historical roots, but concrete results only after 1945 • Ideological, political, and economic factors have all played a role • International influences (role of US and USSR) • Continuous process but with phases of stagnation and acceleration

  5. History • Ideological • From the Resistance movement to the Hague Conference • Economic: • 1944-48 Benelux Custom Union through OEEC, to economic union • Political • From Common Assembly to European Parliament

  6. Enlargement • 1951: France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg • 1973: UK, Denmark, Ireland (case of Norway) • 1981: Greece • 1986: Spain and Portugal • 1995: Austria, Finland, Sweden (case of Norway) • 2005: Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Malta, Cyprus, Slovenia • 2007: Bulgaria, Romania • Waiting: Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro; • Problems of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo • Turkey

  7. The collapse of the Soviet Union • From below: 1974 Helsinki conference • Regime loss of legitimacy due to poor economic performance (low productivity) • From outside: Reagan and the new Cold War • Defense spending outpacing economic growth • From above: Gorbachev (1985) • Perestroika and glasnost • Constitutional reform – power from Communist party to ‘national’ governments - collapse of the system

  8. The collapse of the Soviet Union • June 1991: Attempts to retain at least a confederation • August 1991: The failed coup and Gorbachev resignation on Dec. 25 1991 • Re-emergence of Russia (?)

  9. Eastern Europe • Economic reforms and political reforms • Nationalist coalitions which eventually splinter • Peaceful vs. less peaceful (Romania) transitions. • How to explain them? • The reunification of Germany

  10. The disintegration of Yugoslavia • Decentralization • Nationalist revival • The ‘Arlecchino’ country • 1991: Slovenia and Croatia • 1992-95: The quagmire of Bosnia-Herzegovia • 1998-99: Kosovo, the war against Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro) and Independence • 2000-2001 Macedonia

  11. Europe in the world • Beginning of the century and up to WWII: colonies, power politics • Post-World War II: soft power, liberal internationalism (constructive dialogue, slow elaboration of common values and legal principles and norms) • Exception (colonial disentanglement, Suez, Falklands) • An economic giant and a political pygmy?

  12. Europe as a laboratory • The evolution of the concept and practice of sovereignty and nation/state • Europe as a post-modern space? • What will Europe be at the end of the first century of the third millennium?

  13. Emerging cleavages Immigration, multiculturalism & Euro-skepticism

  14. Final Exam: Saturday, April 12th 3:00-5:00 p.m. ED1014

  15. Parties and Policy in the 1980s & 1990s • Mainstream right: • Bolstered by Thatcher in the UK, • Realization, for some, that state cannot & should not do everything • Manifest in • Privatization of nationalized industries in the UK & elsewhere • Trimming of social protection, welfare state programs

  16. Social Democracy: Toward a ‘Third Way’? • Britain: New Labour rather than Labour • Tony Blair re-brands the party, brings it back to power • Differences • More market and less state – e.g. public-private partnerships • Accepts Thatcher reforms in many areas • Maintain welfare state, but willing to target aid • vs. previous commitment to universal benefits • Tougher administration of justice • Emphasis on spin and presentation • Germany, • SPD under Gerhard Schroeder follows similar course • Netherlands: • Social Democrats abandon polarization • Return to cabinet, • First with Christian Democrats • Then with Liberals and Democrats 66: ‘Purple coalition, in office from 1994-2002, reconciles historic rivals

  17. Elsewhere on the left • Diminishing appeal of Communism in France • Weakening of Communism in Italy • PCI re-baptized Democratic Left in 1991 • Green and left-libertarian parties: • Greens (Germany) start out as anti-establishment party with roots in student movements, Young Socialists (JUSOs) • Ongoing arguments between ‘realos’ and `fundos’ • Entry in to laender (provincial governments in 1990s • Coalition with SPD from 1998-2005 • PDS in Germany

  18. State and economy • Despite Thatcherism, social protections retained, sometimes in moderate form • Less public ownership • But, at best incomplete withdrawal of states from economic life • Germany maintains social market economy& ‘Rhineland’ model of capitalism: cooperation among economic interests • Swedish model persists, albeit with less cooperation between capital and labour

  19. The New Right • Emergence & success in several countries: • Front Nationale (FN) in France • Lega Nord (LN) in Italy • Freedom Party (FPÖ) in Austria • Danish People’s Party • Flemish Block (Belgium) • List Pim Fortuyn (LPF) & Freedom Party (PVV) in the Netherlands • Comparative weakness in Germany • NPD • Republikkaner

  20. New Right Parties • Populist • Leader-centred • Common features: Anti parties • anti-EU • anti-immigrant • anti-establishment • Positions not always internally consistent • Tend to be anti-state, pro market • But sometimes protectionist

  21. Explaining the New Right • Weakening hold of established parties: • Difficulties maintaining or re-establishing electorates of belonging – loyal supporters • Ability of capitalize on disgruntlement, sense that things are not quite right • Use of local issues – e.g. Lega & anti-southern sentiment • Use of the media

  22. Euro-skepticism • Stronger in some countries than others • UK • Denmark • EU & Europe as an elite project, about which voters were not consulted • Enlargement • EURO • Constitution • Dutch and French referenda as example • Desire to ensure local (member-state) control

  23. Anti-immigrant sentiment • Immigration & migration largely unplanned or not fully thought through • Growing concentrations, especially in larger centres • Incomplete integration and assimilation • Marginal economic position – insufficient employment or opportunities • Differences in values – caught between two worlds • Incomplete acceptance by host populations

  24. Anti-establishment sentiment Elites seen as • Out of touch • In collusion – parties the same • Not coping with real problems Examples: • Austria: reaction against proporz & power-sharing • Netherlands: • Saga of Pim Fortuyn • Geert Wilders and the Freedom Party

  25. Bottom-line • Party systems more fragmented than before: • New competitors on the left • former E. German Communists, now the Left Party • A new Socialist Party (SP) in the Netherlands • New right • Party strengths fluctuate • Sometimes hurt by government participation • Yet no return to the instability of the interwar period

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