regionalism and the eu Flashcards
define regionalism
creation and implementation of institutions that express a particular identity and shape collective actions within a geographical region
features of economic regionalism
- financial and trade aspects of regional cooperwetkom
- trade blocs
- interdependent economies and interests
- outward looking- reaching trade deals as a bloc
- USMCA
features of security regionalism
- organisations trying to achieve peace and security
- stability by enhancing interconnectedness and interdependence
- common interests in protecting territorial borders
- NATO
features of political regionalism
- longer term strategic aims
- share same values and seek to protect them
- inward looking and act in their own best interests
- resolving challenges and maximising opportunities
- also enhance their status and voice globally
- human rights, the environment
- african union
strengths of regionalism and globalisation
- regional organisations defend against globalisation by pooling their sovereignty and providing greater leverage on international stage
- greater access to different markets- e.g german and japan cars
- can drive political agenda- environment
- more countries are joining regional organisations
weaknesses of regionalism and globalisation
- democracy can also be undermined by intergovernmental bodies as they lid accountability- EU law prevailed over UK
- only benefit TNCs and US- often exploit weaker states
- Uk voted to leave EU
- most regional organisations like ASEAN lack any real changes
- diminished influence of national governments
how has regionalism protected against globalisation
- regional bodies use tariffs to protect their own economies and limit impact of the global market
- “fortress” model against global competition- EU with common agricultural policy
- counterweight to economic superpowers and TNCs
- prevent “race to the bottom” from safety and environmental laws like EU
- smaller nations can be protected from exploitation like by IMF and World bank
how has regionalism enhanced globalisation
- regionalism increased size and access to markets
- increased structural power to bodies like WTO- EU accounts for 23% of world GDP
- prepare smaller states for cooperation on wider global stage
- growth in RTAs coincides with increased global trade
- organises states into those with similar goals
features of USMCA
- canada, mexico and USA
- economic agreement based on free trade
evaluation of USMCA strengths
+ trade between members have quadrupled
+ FDI has tripled
+ NAAEC aims to work cooperatively to improve protection of their environment
evaluation of USMCA weaknesses
- blue collar jobs lost in UK like automotive sector
- many mexican farmers went out of business as they couldn’t compete
- enviro,metal impacts- exploit mexican environment
- trump threatening to leave again, after already rebranding and calling it the “worst trade in the history of the country”
how is USMCA improved from NAFTA
- increased to 75% regional content of cars
- open up dairy markets in the region, so the US has more access to canadian markets
- to be reviewed every 6 years to avoid it being outdated
features of ASEAN
- 10 members in south east asia
- economic
- promote trade in the region, particularly against chinese domination
- combat border social issues like health
- operates intergovernmental
evaluation of ASEAN strengths
+ developed three pillars on political security, economy and socio-cultural
+ 6th largest economic power- indonesia represents 40% of regions economic output
+ 3rd largest workforce (600mil), even over the EU
+ developed treaties that also involve non-member states- ASEAN regional forum to resolve conflicts peacefully with inclusion of india and china
+ trade with china could be the worlds biggest free trade zone
evaluation of ASEAN weaknesses
- remains intergovernmental so lacks power
- difference in political stability, values and religion within the region
- conflict with china one claims of the south china sea
formation of the EU
1951- formation of european coal and steel community (ECSC) which was supranational institution deciding how much coal or steel each country produces
1957- treaty of rome created common market to facilitate trade
1986- UK, denmark and ireland join
1993- maastricht treaty created the 4 freedoms
2002- euro introduced in 12 states
2009- treaty of lisbon modernise EU institutions
2016- UK left
define intergovernmentalism
decision making where the veto of the nation state is preserved
- requires unanimity in foreign policy and admission of new states
define subsidiary
idea that decision making should be decided at the lowest possible leave where it is still effective
define supranationalism
decision making where countries no longer have the veto and an entity is created above the nation state
- acknowledgement that their decision are binding on all states
examples of supranationalism in EU
- ECJ ruled that germany banning cassis de dijon was unlawful as it was a protectionist move to preserve market for their own drink markets but as it was safe in france it should be safe in all of EU
- qualified majority voting in council of minister requires 55% if member states and 65% if population of EU to support a decision used on 80% of decisions
evaluation of supranationalism
- states have to give up their sovereignty
- may erode nation state distinctiveness
- democratic deficit as european parliament is only directly elected institution
- rise in populist movements resist greater european integration
examples of supranational bodies in EU
- ECJ- pass legislation and override laws of national governments
- ECB- oversees monetary regulation on behalf of EMU countries
- european commission- acts as executive
- european parliament- scrutinise legislation on behalf of EU
- council of ministers- use of QMV
examples of intergovernmental bodies in EU
- european council- each member state is represented and act on their behalf
- council of ministers- ministers represent their own countries
features of african union
- all african countries (55 members)
- political
- give nations in africa a bigger voice
- backlash against colonial and neocolonial interference
- promote peace, security and democracy
- invite international people of african diaspora to encourage their cooperation
evaluation of african union strengths
+ plans to tackle poverty, establish central bank and create single market and currency
+ forces for peacekeeping in sudan and somalia
+ greater voice- threatened to pull of ICC after accusations of racism
evaluation of african union weaknesses
- further plans lack finances, and also slowed down due to other issues like poverty and health
- 6 members have been suspended like egypt, weakening the organisation
- failure to interfere in Libya
- report suggests 75% do not comply with african court in human and peoples’ rights
features of arab league
- 22 members- north africa and middle east
- political and security
- encourage cooperation between states to promote their interests
- protect member state sovereignty
- resolve disputes between members like divisions in iraq war
evaluation of arab league strengths
+ since arab spring, much more proactive like suspending syria and backing UN intervention in Libya
+ greater arab free trade area
+ gaining recognition of palestine statehood- 145 UN members recognise
evaluation of arab league weaknesses
- badly split and little progress towards aims
- decisions only binding on those who vote for them
role and objectives of EU
- stabilise european connections after WW2
- ensure peace in the world through economic interdependence
- security insurance- cooperate in anti terrorism and organised crime
- must fulfil copenhagen criteria to join- democracy, rule of law, respect f or human rights, functioning economy
reasons for EU engagement
- economic prosperity through free trade area
- political maturity, especially for post soviet countries like estonia and bulgaria
- leads to neo functionalism, where integration in one area will inevitably lead to integration in others
- support from US who wanted to end division in europe
key dates in enlargement of EU
- 1958- starting 6 countries were belgium, france, italy, luxembourg, netherlands and west germany
- 1973- UK joins
- 2004- 8 former soviet bloc countries joined including cyprus and hungary
strengths of EU enlargement
- economic growth and increase productivity
- political stability, especially from former soviet allies
- greater global presence
- companies will have greater confidence investing due to EU legislation
- streamline and centralised decision making
weaknesses of EU enlargement
- high levels of migration- reason for brexit
- thatcher said UK were “net contributors” to aid
- drain on old members who have to help new members with aid
- new members do not meet same EU standards
-russia does not like eastward expansions - more national and political interests to consider
features of european commission
- 28 commissioners, one from each country
- propose laws and EU budget
- oversee EU law implementation
features of european council
- heads of governments
- makes key political decisions
- set political agenda
features of council of ministers/EU
- ministers from the national governments
- pass, amends and rejects legislation
features of European parliament
- directly elected MEPs
- pass, amends and rejects legislation
- approves the commission
features of ECJ
- 1 judge from each member state
- interprets and applied EU law
features of ECB
- control monetary policy for eurozone
- determines interest rate
key treaties and agreements of the EU
- treaty of rome (1957)- set up EEC, creation of common market and removal of tariffs
- single european act (1986)- creation of single market, 4 freedoms, QMV
-Maastricht treaty (1992)- creation of EU, further integration, more use of QMV, creation of other pillars like justice and foreign policy,principle of subsidiarity - treaty of amsterdam (2007)- widening and deepening of EU, strengthen foreign policy, greater powers for european parliament, schengen agreement for passport free travel (25 countries)
- treaty of nice (2000)- further eastward enlargement, reformed EU institutions
- treaty of lisbon (2007)- more powers for commission and parliament, created president of european council, EEAS diplomatic service
what is the economic and monetary union
- creation of the euro (20/27)
- ECB controls monetary policy for the eurozone and interest rates are fixed by them
- necessary to have low inflation,interest rates and national debt
strengths of EMU
- makes trade easier by removing fluctuations in exchange rates
- protects smaller states from exchange rate volatility
- strength of euro has increased
- members states can get support from other members
- in theory, less vulnerable to world markets, allowing for greater influence in institutions
- redresses the balance where Germany used to control EU monetary policy
weaknesses of EMU
- states did not stick to the rules when joining- Greece
- level of interests rates are better suited to developed countries like Germany
- ECB is unelected, leading to democratic deficit
- can lead to federal superstate
- affected by financial crisis
- governments can ignore rules- both France and Germany in the 2000s overspend and exceeding the 3% GDP budget limit
what happened with greece’s financial situation
- 2015- debt 177% of greece’s GDP
- major cuts to public services and youth unemployment is very high
- before joining the euro, public spending was already too high
- financial crash meant borrowing costs increased and their debt became unsustainable
what problems came from greece joining the euro
- euro was blamed as it relies on a single interests rate, which includes the prosperous countries
- cheap interest rates cause greece to borrow too much
- also could not devalue their currency due to being member of the euro
- countries are reluctant to pay off debt as it does not work in their own national interest
strengths of EU political and structural power
+ most successful body of its kind
+ bigger involvement in world stage- member of G20
+ can mould global issues on environment like at paris and bringing iran to the table on nuclear deal
- attracting new members like ukraine
- france is on P5
weaknesses of EU political/structural power
- different national interests
- impacts on state sovereignty
- divided on issues like how to deal with russia and ukraine
- individual member states can be represented (UN) but not EU as a whole
strengths of EU economic power
- largest single market in the world
- eu states represented at WTO
- accounts for 16.6%not world trade in 2022
- 450 million citizens
- combined GDP ranked 2nd
weaknesses of EU economic power
- eurozone crisis- greece
- brexit means UK no longer included
- china and US achieved higher growth rates
- expansion causes strain on old members
- not all members in the eurozone
strengths of EU military power
- close links with NATO
- undertook peacekeeping operations- Kosovo
- increased military and aircraft carrier capability
weaknesses of EU military power
- separate national militaries
- not all members in NATO
- perhaps rely too heavily on NATO- US argues free ride problem
- failure to stop yugoslavia and kosovo war
- weak foreign and security policy
strengths of EU soft power
- EU values makes it attractive
- leader on human rights and climate change
- provides more humanitarian aid (1.7 billion euros) and development aid (70.2 billion euros) than rest of world
- criteria means new members have embraced HR and democracy
- won nobel peace prize
weaknesses of EU soft power
- challenged by ruse un nationalism and populism
- democratic deficit
- affected by financial crisis
define and features of euro federalism
- movement to pool state sovereignty to create a federal model with two distinct levels of government
- certain issues will be reserved for central government but individual states can continue to legislate on other issues like welfare
- formal distribution of legislative and executive authority
- written constitution
- central institutions
how can euro federalism arguably have been achieved
+ seen through european parliament and QMV
+ ECB controls euro and interests rate
+ EU law takes precedence - factortame
+ integration culturally like through eurovision and shared liberal values
how has euro federalism arguably not been achieved
- tax raising powers under jurisdiction of member states
- more lack of interest in EU elections
- national veto still applied to taxation, foreign and defence policy
- can opt out- like UK out of monetary union
- different cultures have different languages and cultures
weaknesses of euro federalism
- unsuitable and unsustainable
- erode state sovereignty
- too supranationlist
-immigration issues - economic difficulties
- nationalistic backlash
- lack of accountability
