The relationship between the UK and the EU has become a hot issue in the United Kingdom. There are many doubts whether the former should leave the European Union or not. Some people are not satisfied with the Union the way it currently operates and think that it is taking their freedom away. In my essay I would try to analyse the aforementioned relationship from the core and try to answer the question formed in the topic. It is true that our geography has shaped our psychology, said David Cameron delivering a speech on the European Union in 2013. That sole, irrefutable fact highlights the kind of relation that the United Kingdom has with the European Union for many years now. We have the character of an island nation, Cameron continues. ‘Lying off the north-west coast of Europe, there are two large islands and several smaller ones.” (O’Driscoll 8) The fact that the United Kingdom is an island indeed shaped not only psychology of its citizens but also its history. “Period of isolation has long gone, but perhaps it still retains some of its impact upon the British people, who do not want ties with the Continent." claims Vernon Bognador. ‘The ideal of a united Europe, strong in economic and political institutions, became increasingly attractive to European statesmen after the Second World War (1939–45)’ (Oakland 101) The chance to unite the Europe appeared with the arousal of European Economic Community (EEC), when six countries (West Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Italy) signed the Treaty of Rome. That agreement shaped the future for the future generation that we currently live in. Britain regarded itself as a commercial power and did not wish to be restricted by European relationships. At that time, t... ... middle of paper ... ...ple: An Introduction For Learners Of English: Revised And Updated. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print. Springford, John, Tilford, Simon. The Great British Trade-off The Impact of Leaving the EU on the UK’s Trade and Investment. Centre for European Reform. Web. 10 May 2014. . Vaughan-Rees, Michael, Geraldine ,. Sweeney, and Picot ,. Cassidy. In Britain. London: Chancerel International, 2000. Print. Wheeler, Brian, Peter, Laurence. "UK and the EU: Better off out or In?" BBC News. N.p., 14 May 2013. Web. 16 May 2014. . Wilson, Sam. "Love 'em or Hate 'em - Britain's Rocky Relationship with the EU."BBC News. N.p., 1 Apr. 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. .
Prutha Patel Mr. Lougheed Social Studies 09 February, 2016 Has Europe United? Do you believe that the European Union has united Europe? A supranational cooperation is when countries give up some control of their affairs as they work together to achieve shared goals. The European countries have used supranational cooperation to create the European Union because they want to prevent future wars, and rebuild the weak economy that had formed after the two wars. The European Union has united Europe because it has made Europe have a common currency called the Euro, has a common “government” for the European Union, and has all of the countries influenced when one country that is part of the European Union is in “trouble”.
Ed. Lynn Z. Bloom and Louise Z. Smith. 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2011. 494-507. Print.
For many people in Britain, the EU remains an unwelcoming aspect of their lives, this reflects on a dislike to ‘all things European.’ Mannin states “The European Union (EU) is a unique partnership in which countries work closely together for the benefit of all their citizens” (2010, p.343) People may believe that the UK is different to other countries and by joining the EU, Britain will lose its identity and by working closely with other countries, also its independence. The tabloid press have always seemingly had a highly negative view on the EU, The Sun reported that Labour had betrayed Britain; the article identifies weaknesses in the EU and claims Gordon Brown surrendered our country to Europe by shifting British power over. (2009)
Tom Newton Dunn, ‘Go to the war on the Eurom Law’ The Sun, 7 February 2011accessed 29 March 2011 http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3395471/David-Cameron-urged-to-go-to-war-over-Euro-law.html
In September of 1946, Winston Churchill made a speech at Zurich University in which he called for a "'United States of Europe'" (www.euro.ecb.int); clearly, this was not a new idea. Churchill thought that by uniting Europe, they would be able to put an end to Europe's decline economically in markets that the United States was quickly taking over.
Peterson, J. and Shackleton, M. 2002. The institutions of the European Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
When World War II ended the final remnants of the old European order lay in ruins. With such devastation wrought upon the continent twice in less than fifty years, it was remarkable that Europe managed to recover. What is even more remarkable is the Phoenix that rose from these ashes, and the new feelings of unity that accompanied the ending of the war. Those nations of western Europe began to do what decades ago had been unthinkable: develop the blueprints for a common system of the United Europe.
Europe will not run the 21st century because of a combination of economic, institutional, and cultural factors. However, for the purpose of this paper, I will focus on the economic aspects of European society that will impede EU ascendency. I do not believe that the EU will cease to exist in the coming century, but I do believe it will become obsolete because it will be unable to make the necessary changes to their demographic problems, defense policies, and economic culture in response to the increasing American ascendency. Europe has long been known as the continent home to the great powers of the world. From Caesar to Napoleon to the British Empire, the European empires have continuously been at the helm of the ship of progress. The wars of the 20th century however, left Europe in a wake of destruction and chaos period before. The continent was devastated and had little hope to recover. In this new era of European descent, the great American Era came into existence. The US, one of the remaining superpowers, became the helping hand that Europe needed. With the aid allocated by the Marshall Plan and the creation of programs and institutions, Europe had a future. The creation of the European Union (EU) united the European countries over the common goal of preventing war another war. The United States intended for these programs to be a stepping-stone to build the economic and institutional powers of Europe, because a stronger Europe was good for the US. However, instead of using these as a springboard to create self-reliant union, the EU remains reliant on US military and hard power to support them their social efforts.
...2013, March). Arguments for and against EU enlargement. Retrieved November 3, 2013, from Debating Europe: http://www.debatingeurope.eu/focus/infobox-arguments-for-and-against-eu-enlargement/#.UoLA9_mkoQ0
The Cold War did not directly involve Europe, but Europe and its various states were key players and key sources of tension between the two great powers, the USSR and the United States of America. The dates of the beginning and end of the Cold War are debated but 1947-1991 is generally agreed upon. In this paper, I will attempt to outline the events of the Cold War which were relevant to Europe and how this affected European integration and relations. ‘Integration’ here refers to the process of transferring powers of decision-making and implantation from national to supranational level. Europe was weakened after World War Two, especially in contrast with the USSR and the USA. Traditional European hegemony was at an end and Europe had to find a new dynamic without becoming involved in conflict with the two new superpowers.
In this essay, I will be discussing the reasons behind the creation of the European Union. I will be going into detail on the condition of Europe post World War Two and the division between the East and West which was caused by ongoing tension between the United States of America and USSR. I will state the advantages and disadvantages of being a member of the European Union and whether the European Union has been a success or not. As the dust settled post World War Two, European governments faced a number of social and economic challenges in attempting to rebuild Europe. Following the aftermath of the war, there was a notion within Europe that the destruction which the war caused could bring about political, social, economic and cultural integration within Europe.
On the one hand, without international relations from the EU, Britain is economically and socially vulnerable. While Britain’s exit from the EU may define Britain’s power according to British citizens, the type of power that matters is relative power, which is the power when it is being compared to other states. If the other states do not recognize Britain as a force of power, then its exit from the EU is pointless. On the other hand, by discontinuing the benefits granted by the EU, Britain declines the assistance that could have helped the country to become more powerful. In other words, Brexit decreases a source of gathering power for Britain, since the EU not only offers economic opportunities, but it also provides useful information so that the member states can behave accordingly. Overall, realism suggests that while Brexit increases Britain’s confidence in being powerful, it also decreases the country’s power in a way.
Pro-EU politicians will argue that the EU 's purpose is what it has been since its early begins, to join a continent into one economic, political, and social environment for the benefit of all of Europe. They will continue their argument by highlighting the benefits of being part of such a union in terms of the power and recognition it brings to a country. Ending their argument by claiming that the EU helps keep the continent secure, prosperous, and united as a whole (Ash 2-4). However, while these assertions on paper are appealing, in reality, they are no longer true. The EU and its member states have long been plagued by economic crisis, security risk, terrorist attacks, annexation, and even in inequality. While at one time the EU was a union that countries and continents idolized and respected, over the years it has begun to crumble into nothing more than a dysfunctional meeting of European world
There are several key components of the European history that have led to the creation of the individual nations within the EU and the larger supranational Institution we call the European Union. As Curtis and Linser (2004) “The European Union is the most important development in European history since World War Two” (Curtis & Linser, 2004, p.4). And I tend to agree that this story line is the most important since it was the starting’s to one of the largest supranational organizations that shaped modern Europe and continues to shape it today. To start the European Union could not have been created without the nations that are part of this supranational organization. Many of the nations that make up the EU have been either long-term super powers, France, United Kingdom or Germany, but also areas plagued with conflict. The conflict is however the more important of the two. The conflict between Germany and the rest of Europe in WW2 was the sparks that created...
The European Union is known as an economic and political partnership between 28 member states, in the continent of Europe. After the second world war European countries affected by the war came together to discuss of a resolution that would avoid another event such as the World Wars from occurring. In 1952 the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) would become the first international organisation that would see the further developments of the European Union. The six countries involved with the organisation were Germany, Luxembourg, France, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957 by the six countries which saw the establishment of the European Economic Community (EEC). In 1958 the EEC was created and the six members became the first states in the organisation. Coming up to almost sixty years since its establishment the EEC is what is known as the European Union (EU) and its members have grown from six to twenty-eight. The EEC was changed to the European Union in 1993 after the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. Ireland has largely benefited from the EU since joining in 1973.