European Union Creation - Essay Example

Running Head: EUROPEAN UNION CREATION European Union Creation The of Your 11th August 2007 European Union Creation The European Union comprises of a majority of states in Europe. Starting from a membership of 6 nations it has grown to 27. The 1957 Treaty of Rome was the foundation for the European Union. Since then it has experienced many changes. The EU consists of common project and policies controlled by member nations. World War 2 was a watershed in the history of Europe. There had never been such a tremendous cost in human and economic which hit Europe so hard. There was a desire to avoid the horrors of war like the Holocaust, concentration camps, slave labour and the numerous other atrocities which were perpetrated in the war. There was also a yearning for an end to warfare since the horrors of modern warfare had been exposed in the conflict. The cold war was also developing between the Soviet Union and United States. The threat of annihilation from nuclear weapons remained. Pre-World War 2 ideas for European Unity Charlemagne and The Holy Roman Empire were both historical examples of attempts to unite Europe. The Arab conquest of Spain, South France and Italy also led to the idea of a united Christendom against the Moors. There were also ideas about the peaceful unification of European following the threat from the Ottoman Turks. The end of the American Revolution also led to calls for a similar United States of Europe. The rise of nationalism and fascism in the 1930s would however destroy any dreams of United Europe. Rise of Fascism and National Socialism The 1930s was a time which saw the rise of totalitarian, racist and nationalist ideologies like Fascism and National Socialism. They opposed socialism, liberalism, democracy and individualism. Fascism attracted different sections of society like workers, peasants, farmers, landowners, nationalists, reactionaries, etc. Fascism sought to control all aspects of society with the population in complete subordination and obedience to a single, strong one party government. This one party government would impose laws and a brutal militia to enforce order. Fascism considered the group of people superior to the individuals. It had a great cult of personality. It was also considered a form of collectivism. National Socialism or Nazism was a collection of various ideologies and groups in Germany. The humiliating Treaty of Versailles had created resentment amongst the German masses. The weak Weimar Republic had been unable to solve the problems of Germany. Germany had the resources, education workforce and military power to become a great nation. However Germany’s weakness and defeat in World War 1 was blamed on Jews and Communists. The genesis of the Nazi state was on the basis of the racial superiority of the German people. It called for unlimited supremacy. Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, Homosexuals and other groups were all considered inferior. The horrors unleashed by these ideologies eventually gave way to a feeling in Europe after World War 2 for the creation of a common political bloc that would respect freedom, promote democracy and prevent the rise of such fascist and racist ideologies. Horrors of World War 2 World War 2 was a major global conflict with Europe being the primary theatres of war in the world. Over 60 million people died in the conflict. More than 100 million personnel were mobilized for the war. The conflict was marked with genocide, war crimes, disease and massacres. One estimate is that 12 million civilians died in Holocaust camps, 1.5 million by bombs, 7 million in Europe from other causes, and 7.5 million in China from other causes (OBrien, ). The 1930s saw the rise of nationalist and racist ideologies like Fascism and National Socialism. The mass appeal they held towards their populations was mesmeric in nature. Adolph Hitler was seen as the person who would solve the problems of Germany. These ideologies were the driving force behind the events of World War 2. Europe was devastated as Axis and Allied powers captured and recaptured cities, towns and villages. The war saw the use of weapons of war directed towards civilians. Tens of thousands of civilians died from bombings, massacres, genocide, disease and starvation. The Holocaust was the deliberate genocide of the six million Jews by the Nazis. Atrocities were also perpetrated against Chinese civilians by Japanese troops. The war also saw the use of massive aerial bombings against cities by Allied and Axis troops. The use of nuclear weapons against Hiroshima and Nagasaki provided a glimpse of the horrors of nuclear warfare. The Soviet Gulags consisted of POWS from occupied countries and Soviet Citizens who had opposed the government. Tens of thousands of people died in these concentration camps. Creation of European Union The creation of the Council of Europe in 1949 was the foundation for the genesis of the European Union. Since Germany’s heavy industry was dismantled and its coal producing regions placed under international management, the Schuman declaration sought to bring the integration of coal and steel industries of Europe. The European Coal and Steel Community were established in 1951. Some restrictions on German industrial production were also lifted. Finally the 1957 Treaties of Rome was signed which established the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community. The EU would continue to expand in the 1970s with Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joining them. The 1990s would see the further expansion of the EU and more countries joining it. Jean Monnet Jean Monnet is considered the founder of European Unity. According to Wikipedia, Jean Monnet declared in a meeting of the exiled French government that a federation was the best option for “prosperity and social development” (Wikipedia). Monnet headed the French General Planning Commission. He is credited with the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community. Monnet was a strong proponent of a Federation of European states since he believed that was the only way that the resources of Europe could be properly utilized for improving the standards of living and increasing productivity. The 1955 foundation of the Action Committee for United Europe laid the basis for European political factions and trade unions which propelled their respective governments to lay the foundation of a European Union. Military Weakness of Europe One of the factors which were important in the creation of the European Union was the relative military and economic weakness of Europeans as compared with the United States and Soviet Union. Both the USA and USSR had emerged out of the conflict as the new superpowers. A new cold war rivalry was about to emerge between the new superpowers. A militarily and economically strong Western Europe would serve as a useful ally in countering Soviet led Communist subversion. Europe was effectively partitioned into two political, economic and military blocs each linked with the superpower that had liberated it from German occupation. The major European powers could not hold their overseas colonial possessions. The Soviet Union had been an ally of the Allied powers against the Nazis. However after World War 2 they had created their own puppet regimes in Eastern Europe and placed large number of troops, tanks and nuclear weapons against West Europe. This was one of the reasons why the European States were moving towards some kind of integrated political and economic bloc that would counter the Soviet threat. Soviet Threat After the end of World War II, the Soviet Union ensured the creation of its satellite states by setting up communist regimes in Eastern Europe. These regimes had subordinated their political structures, foreign policy, economics and military activity to the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union had a standing army of 10 to 13 million men. The Soviet armed forces were now more modern and mobile. Many Soviet forces that had liberated East Europe from the Nazis were now stationed to establish satellite regimes and deployed against the West. The Soviet military threat was another reason why the European Union was established. Alliance with the United States The United States had extensively contributed to the victory of Allied forces. It was the only country which did not suffer devastation from World War 2. The United States was naturally the only state which could support Europe in rebuilding their economies and defending them from the Soviet threat. NATO was created as a military defense pact by the USA, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. The treaty stated mutual defense if any member state was attacked. The United States also initiated the Marshall Plan which called for rebuilding a strong Europe. It was named after Secretary of State George Marshall. The United States would eventually invest 13 billion dollars in economic and technical assistance. The result would be that Europe’s economies grew exponentially. The European states displayed impressive standards of living and increased production. The Marshall plan was one of the first steps towards European integration. Poverty and starvation vanished from the European continent due to the Marshall plan. Industrial and agricultural output increased. The Marshall plan helped Europe recover from the destruction of World War 2. The political effects of the Marshall Plan were the reduction of strife and instability. It further helped European states in reducing the popularity of communist parties. Many unpopular measures like austerity measures, rationing, etc which had been enforced in World War 2 were relaxed due to the assistance received from the United States. The Marshall Plan also played an important role in European integration. It was felt by the Americans and European leaders that some kind of integration was vital to secure peace and prosperity. French-German Accommodation   The European states strongly believed in avoiding war. The two world wars had caused extensive damage and devastation to Europe. A French-German peace treaty would be beneficial in the creation of an integrated Europe. With this in mind, speaking at the University of Zurich on 19 September 1946, Winston Churchill said: “The first step in the recreation of the European Family must be a partnership between France and Germany… There can be no revival of Europe without a spiritually great France and a spiritually great Germany”. The French-German reconciliation and collaboration after World War 2 was due to the fact that both countries had suffered extensive damage. The Elysee Treaty which was signed by Charles De Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer was a series of agreements that called for joint cooperation in foreign policy, economic and military integration, and student exchanges. The treaty was opposed by many parties in Europe and USA. The Soviet military threat was instrumental in forcing Germany and France to re- integrate with West Europe. The treaty achieved a lot in initiating European integration and creating a stronger Franco-German co-position in transatlantic relations. Free and Prosperous Europe A free, fair, and prosperous Europe could only be achieved if all the member states developed their international relationships in framework of harmony. An integrated European market would lead to impressive standards of living and greater production. Most of the European states hesitated to surrender control of their vital national affairs over to any supranational organization; therefore the assumption was that a common economic union would be the precursor to any kind of political union. Economic unity was much easier to establish as compared with political unity since the vital economic interests of the countries was more important given the extensive devastation Europe faced after World War 2.. European economies had been converted into war production factories by the Germans and their vital mineral resources had been plundered for military use. The European states also were small and could not rebuild on their own in the aftermath of the destruction of World War 2. A united European market based upon economic motives and supported by the United States was beneficial for the economies of Europe. Creation of Common Market After the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community, the six member states thought of allowing the free movement of goods, services and capital. This cooperation began in 1958. It was applied for the common market and for the peaceful use of nuclear power. The objective was also to allow the free movement of goods. The advantages of a common market were many. It would have resulted in competition with each other directly. It was also necessary that the member states remove all internal trade barriers. A common market carries the advantages of promoting economic growth and increasing employment. Economic integration is a process aiming at abolishing discrimination between domestic and foreign goods, services and factors of production. a common market in which the major micro- and macroeconomic policies of the member countries are harmonized under supranational control and in which a single currency is adopted, leads to an economic and monetary union. Social and economic development in the EU has been achieved by incorporating the national markets, establishing a single currency and achieving measures to reduce internal differences in the integrated market. EU integration has been a voluntary process. It isn’t something which is forced but it is designed to build appropriate institutional and democratic structures in order to solve economic problems which can only be solved by the creation of a common market. The EU was originally built upon the successful use of coal and steel resources however it evolved into a trading bloc. It has metamorphosed into a political bloc with a constitution and several common policies. Achievements of European Union The European Union has existed for six decades. It is a unique example of history in which several countries have integrated their economies and political systems into one loosely formed confederation. Further what is even more amazing is that it has been a peaceful revolution. The EU is a system where each state is dependant on each other. The basis of interdependence was trade and it extended into other areas also. A unique feature of the European Union has been individualism, respect for human rights, freedom, capitalism and democracy. Barriers have been removed which have resulted in the free movement of people, goods and services. The integration of the EU brought peace and prosperity to the war battered continent after World War 2. Political and social stability, economic prosperity, enhanced competitiveness, introduction of the Euro, fully integrated single market, integrated trade policy are some of the achievements of the European Union. Political stability has been achieved after the devastation and destruction which Europe faced in the aftermath of World War 2. Today European states have evolved into multicultural, tolerant, peaceful and prosperous societies where there is no room for racist, fascist and hate ideologies. The EU is credited with ensuring the democratization of all states including those ruled by military regimes like Greece and communist regimes. Conclusion Economic factors were the primary reason why many European states sought to integrate themselves into a form of a common market. The Soviet military and political threat was also one of the important reasons why the European Union was created. Another important desire was the need to prevent another devastating conflict like World War 2. It was the belief and desire of European leaders that a unified Europe would help increase peace and prosperity, reduce conflict and bring political stability. The European Union has grown from six nations to twenty seven. It has achieved much in its sixty year history. Political and economic stability, removal of trade barriers, freedom of movement of goods, services and people, introduction of Euro are some of the achievements of the European Union. Sources Artis, Michael J., and Nixson, Frederick, eds., The Economics of the European Union: Policy and Analysis, 3d ed. (2002). Barbour, Philippe, ed., European Union Handbook (1996; repr. 2002). Bomberg, Elizabeth, and Stubb, Alexander, The European Union: How Does It Work? (2003). Cini, Michael, ed., European Union Politics (2003). Corbett, Richard, The European Parliaments Role in Closer EU Integration (1998; repr. 2002). References OBrien, Professor Joseph V World War II: Combatants and Casualties (1937 - 45). Retrieved August 11, 2007, from INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS Web site: http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~jobrien/reference/ob62.html Jean Monnet. Retrieved August 11, 2007, from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Monnet Read More