regionalism and the eu Flashcards
1
Q
define regionalism
A
creation and implementation of institutions that express a particular identity and shape collective actions within a geographical region
2
Q
features of economic regionalism
A
- financial and trade aspects of regional cooperwetkom
- trade blocs
- interdependent economies and interests
- outward looking- reaching trade deals as a bloc
- USMCA
3
Q
features of security regionalism
A
- organisations trying to achieve peace and security
- stability by enhancing interconnectedness and interdependence
- common interests in protecting territorial borders
- NATO
4
Q
features of political regionalism
A
- 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
5
Q
strengths of regionalism and globalisation
A
- 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
6
Q
weaknesses of regionalism and globalisation
A
- 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
7
Q
how has regionalism protected against globalisation
A
- 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
8
Q
how has regionalism enhanced globalisation
A
- 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
9
Q
features of USMCA
A
- canada, mexico and USA
- economic agreement based on free trade
10
Q
evaluation of USMCA strengths
A
+ trade between members have quadrupled
+ FDI has tripled
+ NAAEC aims to work cooperatively to improve protection of their environment
11
Q
evaluation of USMCA weaknesses
A
- 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”
12
Q
how is USMCA improved from NAFTA
A
- 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
13
Q
features of ASEAN
A
- 10 members in south east asia
- economic
- promote trade in the region, particularly against chinese domination
- combat border social issues like health
- operates intergovernmental
14
Q
evaluation of ASEAN strengths
A
+ 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
15
Q
evaluation of ASEAN weaknesses
A
- 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
16
Q
formation of the EU
A
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
17
Q
define intergovernmentalism
A
decision making where the veto of the nation state is preserved
- requires unanimity in foreign policy and admission of new states
18
Q
define subsidiary
A
idea that decision making should be decided at the lowest possible leave where it is still effective
19
Q
define supranationalism
A
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
20
Q
examples of supranationalism in EU
A
- 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
21
Q
evaluation of supranationalism
A
- 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
22
Q
examples of supranational bodies in EU
A
- 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
23
Q
examples of intergovernmental bodies in EU
A
- european council- each member state is represented and act on their behalf
- council of ministers- ministers represent their own countries
24
Q
features of african union
A
- 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
25
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
26
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
27
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
28
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
29
evaluation of arab league weaknesses
- badly split and little progress towards aims
- decisions only binding on those who vote for them
30
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
31
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
32
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
33
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
34
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
35
features of european commission
- 28 commissioners, one from each country
- propose laws and EU budget
- oversee EU law implementation
36
features of european council
- heads of governments
- makes key political decisions
- set political agenda
37
features of council of ministers/EU
- ministers from the national governments
- pass, amends and rejects legislation
38
features of European parliament
- directly elected MEPs
- pass, amends and rejects legislation
- approves the commission
39
features of ECJ
- 1 judge from each member state
- interprets and applied EU law
40
features of ECB
- control monetary policy for eurozone
- determines interest rate
41
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
42
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
43
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
44
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
45
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
46
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
47
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
48
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
49
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
50
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
51
strengths of EU military power
- close links with NATO
- undertook peacekeeping operations- Kosovo
- increased military and aircraft carrier capability
52
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
53
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
54
weaknesses of EU soft power
- challenged by ruse un nationalism and populism
- democratic deficit
- affected by financial crisis
55
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
56
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
57
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
58
weaknesses of euro federalism
- unsuitable and unsustainable
- erode state sovereignty
- too supranationlist
-immigration issues
- economic difficulties
- nationalistic backlash
- lack of accountability
