After the first half of the 20th century, Europe had already witnessed two world wars, which were the result of frequent conflicts among European neighbours. At that point in time, political leaders such as Konrad Adenauer, Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman envision a united and peaceful European Union (hereafter called EU). European integration begins timid in 1950 with the European Coal and Steel Agreement to permanently consolidate European countries economically and politically. In 1957, the Treaty of Rome creates the foundation for the European Economic Community to establish the European Customs Union. In 1993, at the time of its third enlargement, the European States Community is grown to 12 member states and signs the Maastricht Treaty, which leads to the creation of a common currency for most of the European member states. Finally, the single market with "four freedoms of: movement of goods, services, people and money" is completed.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The European Integration Crisis
2.1 The Functionalist Approach to European Integration
3. Eurosceptics
3.1 New populism and Euro-scepticism
3.2 Right-wing populism in north-western and central-eastern Europe
3.3 Left-wing populism in southern Europe
4. Globalisation
4.1 Globalisation losers
4.2 Globalisation winners
4.2.1 Corporate political responsibility
5. Social Legitimacy of supranational EU bodies
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the contemporary European integration crisis, identifying high "heterogeneity costs"—derived from national differences in history, culture, and economic preferences—as a primary destabilizing factor. It seeks to analyze how these costs, exacerbated by globalization and recent financial and refugee crises, fuel populism and undermine the social legitimacy of the European Union.
- The role of functionalist integration theory in the current crisis.
- The rise of Euroscepticism and populism across different European regions.
- The impact of globalization on economic winners and losers within the EU.
- The influence of corporate actors on political decision-making.
- Evaluation of the social legitimacy of supranational EU institutions.
Excerpt from the Book
2. The European Integration Crisis
As laid out in the introduction of this paper, the continuous European Integration until the today is a complicated endeavour. The ongoing tension between European supranational institutions, which oversee increasingly more policy functions, and national governments, which are fearing a loss of power, is salient in every step of the integration (Spolaore, 2013, p. 132).
2.1 The Functionalist Approach to European Integration
This conflict is reflected in one of the most influential political theories of European integration. The functionalist approach, based on Haas (1958, 1964), contributed in a meaningful way to the philosophy and exertion strategy of European integration leaders and the formation of the Euro (Spolaore, 2013, p. 133). Functionalism states that European integration is driven by cross-border elites or supranational entrepreneurs such as Jean Monnet, which pursue an economic integration to reach a political integration (Spolaore, 2013, p. 132). The general strategy entails the initial integration of narrow areas for instance the coal and steel area in 1950 which than leads to a chain-reaction of continuous integration of more areas, the latest one being the monetary union. The resulting economic and monetary union of a free market and a common currency will than create pressure for more integration in form of a political (federal) EU (Spolaore, 2014, p.136). An established functionalist argument for the success of this integration approach is the following: After the homogenisation of countries in form of a common currency, their economic power will align as well. Moreover, the economic and monetary unitization will discipline the economic questionable behaviour of single member states. After all, the member states merge into a common European culture, with similar values and policies to ensure macroeconomic security and continued existence of the EU (Spolaore, 2013, p. 136).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the history of European integration and sets the research focus on the current integration crisis caused by heterogeneity costs.
2. The European Integration Crisis: Explores the tensions between supranational institutions and national governments through the lens of functionalist theory.
3. Eurosceptics: Analyzes the surge in populist movements across Europe and their differing characteristics in northern, central, and southern regions.
4. Globalisation: Investigates the uneven effects of global trade, highlighting the plight of "losers" and the political influence wielded by corporate "winners."
5. Social Legitimacy of supranational EU bodies: Discusses the trade-off between consensus-based decision-making and efficient majority voting in maintaining institutional legitimacy.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes how excessive heterogeneity costs threaten the EU project and emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to manage these factors.
Keywords
European Integration, Heterogeneity Costs, Euroscepticism, Populism, Globalisation, Functionalism, Social Legitimacy, Supranationalism, Eurozone Crisis, Corporate Lobbying, Political Trilemma, Austerity, Sovereignty, European Union, Inequality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the current European integration crisis, specifically analyzing how heterogeneity costs among member states create political and social friction that challenges the EU's stability.
What are the primary themes discussed in this work?
Key themes include the impact of functionalist integration, the rise of regional populism, the socioeconomic consequences of globalization, corporate influence on EU policy, and the challenges of maintaining social legitimacy.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to elaborate on the European integration crisis and demonstrate that national heterogeneity costs, when they outweigh the benefits of integration, act as the primary catalyst for the current political instability.
Which theoretical framework does the author apply?
The author primarily applies the functionalist integration theory and the concept of heterogeneity costs to explain the evolution and current struggles of the European project.
What topics are covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers the functionalist approach to integration, the rise of left- and right-wing populism, the effects of globalization on income inequality, corporate lobbying, and the democratic legitimacy of EU decision-making.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as European Integration, Heterogeneity Costs, Euroscepticism, Globalisation, and Social Legitimacy.
How do "heterogeneity costs" affect the EU?
Heterogeneity costs result from fundamental national differences—such as culture, history, and language—which lead to conflicting national preferences. When these costs exceed the benefits of integration, they impede the functionalist model and fuel Euroscepticism.
Why is the "Corporate Lobbying Access Framework" significant?
This framework is used to illustrate how multinational corporations gain preferential access to European Commission decision-making, which can lead to perceptions of elite bias and fuel populist opposition.
What is the role of the "Political Trilemma" in this analysis?
The Trilemma, proposed by Rodrik, suggests that societies cannot simultaneously achieve global integration, democracy, and nation-state sovereignty; this creates a structural tension for EU member states.
How did the Eurozone crisis influence social legitimacy?
The crisis forced austerity measures on member states, which were often perceived as undemocratic, thereby damaging the social legitimacy of EU institutions and the integration process as a whole.
- Citation du texte
- Lisa Lambertz (Auteur), 2017, The Impact of Heterogeneity Costs on the European Integration Crisis, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/489720
