Summary of the material for the final exam (2022) for Politics of the European Union. INCLUDES notes from (Total: 53 pages):
Neill Nugent’s book (8th edition, 2017) “The Government and Politics of the European Union”, chapters 2-5, 9-12, 18, 19, 22 and 24.
Samenvatting Politiek van de Europese Unie 2022/2023 Universiteit Leiden
Lecture notes and book summary - Politics of the European Union - 2023 - Grade 9.7
Summary Politics of the European Union IRO complete
Tout pour ce livre (9)
École, étude et sujet
Universiteit Leiden (UL)
International Relations And Organizations
Politics Of The EU (6441PEU17)
Tous les documents sur ce sujet (8)
4
revues
Par: oscarmartinez1 • 1 année de cela
Par: giacomoef • 1 année de cela
Thank you! Hope the exams went well.
Par: acavandoorn • 1 année de cela
Par: giacomoef • 1 année de cela
Thank you for the positive review. Good luck with the exams!
Par: GabrieleBattisti • 2 année de cela
Par: giacomoef • 2 année de cela
Thank for the review! Good luck with the exams!
Par: marawankhalil1 • 2 année de cela
Par: giacomoef • 2 année de cela
Thanks for the review!
Vendeur
S'abonner
giacomoef
Avis reçus
Aperçu du contenu
Summary of the material for the final exam (2022) for Politics of the European Union. INCLUDES
notes from (Total: 53 pages):
● Neill Nugent’s book (8th edition, 2017) “The Government and Politics of the European Union”,
chapters 2-5, 9-12, 18, 19, 22 and 24.
1
Politics of the European Union Notes on Readings
Table of Contents
“The Government and Politics of the European Union” 2
Chapter 2: The Post-War Transformation of Western Europe 2
Chapter 3: The Creation of the European Community 6
Chapter 4: The Deepening of the Integration Process 9
Chapter 5: The Widening of the Integration Process 10
Chapter 9: The Commission 15
Chapter 10: The Council of the European Union 21
Chapter 11: The European Council 26
Chapter 12: The European Parliament 30
Chapter 18: Policy Processes 36
Chapter 19: Making and Applying EU Legislation 40
Chapter 22: External Policies 44
Chapter 24: Conceptualising the EU 51
, 2
“The Government and Politics of the European Union”
Chapter 2: The Post-War Transformation of Western Europe
European integration developed in Western Europe → Central and Eastern Europe (Communism’s
collapse).
Historical Divisions
European history = characterised by tensions/conflicts → different state formations:
1. Language: lack of ability to converse until recently.
2. Religion: (most) northwestern countries = Protestant, (most) southern countries = Catholic.
3. Contrasting cultural traditions and historical experiences (distinct identifications).
4. Political: varying systems of government + competing ideological orientations.
➔ Autocracies vs. liberal, parliamentary democracies (mid-1970s).
5. Economic: gradual competition (early 20th century) for overseas markets.
These divisions ensured that until World War II (WWII) states’ relationships = rivalries + distrust.
During the interwar period, cooperative relationships between Western European states were:
● Different (little pattern in any bilateral/multilateral treaties).
● Sudden (unpredictable with rising tensions).
There were few advances for greater cooperation.
➔ International climate = national rivalries, clashing interests, biased views (specific national
purposes in mind).
➔ E.g. the 1919 League of Nations (LoN):
◆ Was dominated by Europeans and had some potential as a forum for
understanding/improving relationships between European States.
◆ HOWEVER, it failed due to:
1. Vague aims (interpreted in different possible ways).
2. Its intergovernmental structure (dependent on all-state agreement).
3. Different state aims (preserving the Versailles status quo vs. changing the
settlement).
The Post-War Transformation
Three different aspects of Western European state relations:
1. Unbroken peace (since 1945); transformation from hostile to friendly relations.
➔ Military conflict = irrelevant to the resolution of differences.
➔ Shared views on ‘friends’ vs. potential ‘enemies’:
◆ Initially communism in the 1980s/90s
◆ Development of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
◆ Main security concerns today (Russian assertiveness, post-Soviet/Middle Eastern
national/ethnic tensions, the threat of international terrorism).
2. A transformed agenda: Greater variety of discussed/negotiated subjects.
, 3
➔ International agendas have become:
◆ Less focused on ‘high policy’ issues (the existence/preservation of the state).
◆ More involved with ‘low policy’ issues (wealth and welfare of populations).
➔ Transformation timeline:
◆ Followed quickly after WWII.
◆ Mid-1950s Western European representatives (European Communities) engaged in
detailed negotiations on policy matters (mainly economic).
◆ 1970s intensified representation of new topics in the European Community (EC).
3. New channels and processes:
● Diverse international agenda → gradual transformation in state interrelations.
○ Involvement of political/administrative systems in external relations management.
○ Ranging from ad hoc/informal → regularised/highly-structured.
● Changing forms of inter-state communication. Timeline:
○ 1940s increasing policy contact between Western European governments.
○ 1950s establishment of ECs (member state representatives became enmeshed in
daily collective institutions and policy-making processes).
○ 1958 European Economic Community (EEC) broadened its policy portfolio.
○ 1970s greater geographic spread.
Transformation Explanation
Four approaches to explain post-war Western European cooperation/integration:
1. The deep roots of European integration.
➔ Argument that Europe = unique/identifiable entity based on inter-relationships between
geography and other developments (economic, social, etc..).
◆ HOWEVER, this is controversial (divisions > identity of shared values).
➔ Highlighting importance of European integration:
◆ 18th-century inter-state relations (understandings between major powers)
foreshadowing the post-1945 peace-endured developments. HOWEVER, this:
● Overstates the peace during the 1800s.
● Exaggerates the amount of state cooperation (e.g. the Concert of Nations).
◆ Increasing inter-state cooperation due to:
● National economic (industrialisation)/political integration between states →
nationalism and grand ideas of the sovereign state.
● Increasing interconnectedness = technological change/economic advance.
◆ HOWEVER, from the late 1800s, many states:
● Followed economic protectionism.
● Developed national identities = new political tensions.
● Economic linkages did NOT prevent or restrain World War I (WWI) or WWII.
2. The impact of WWII, caused by:
● Political factors:
1. Combating Nationalism: Realisation that nationalism = a recipe for war. This led to:
a. More powerful body → 1944 establishment of the United Nations (UN).
b. Specific European arrangements (advocated by Resistance movements).
, 4
c. Widely shared optimism about European state collaboration (1949 Statute
of the Council of Europe).
➔ Statute proved to be a disappointment (vague, intergovernmental
decision-making structure, uninterested members).
➔ Useful functions in the sphere of human rights (European
Convention of Human Rights + as a forum for discussion.
2. The New Political Map of Europe: Fundamental redrawing following WWII:
a. The division of Germany in two.
b. An ‘Iron Curtain’ between East (Soviet Communist zone) and West.
➔ The determination to preserve Western Europe from Communism
(backed strongly by the United States - US):
◆ 1947 Truman Doctrine: Political guarantee.
◆ 1948 Marshall Aid: Economic assistance.
◆ The foundation of NATO (US military protection).
c. Liberal democratic systems establishment, similar political ideas everywhere
(US aid actively sought → integrationist pressures developments).
3. The New International Power Balance: Promoted a sense that Western Europe =
identifiable political entity. Caused by:
a. The division of Europe.
b. Transition from inter-European state relations to US-Soviet relations.
c. The start of the Cold War (1947/48).
4. The German Problem: Post-war reconstruction and decisions whether to:
a. Contain Germany (interim division in zones between East and West →
already failed between the wars).
b. Follow a conciliatory approach → Soviet Union (USSR) = perceived principal
threat, to avoid a political vacuum in West Germany, use its power/wealth to
build a European defence (US pressures).
● Economic factors (new international economic/financial arrangements):
○ WWII divided the European continent, limited participation of Central/Eastern
European countries.
➔ War created new realities/changed attitudes.
○ 1994 Bretton Woods Conference: 44 countries agreed to establish two new bodies:
■ The International Monetary Fund (IMF): Alleviate currency instability by
allowing countries with temporary payment difficulties to have access to
short-term credit facilities.
■ The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World
Bank): Provide long-term loans for major investments.
○ 1947 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade: Negotiated between 23 countries to
facilitate trade through the lowering of international barriers.
○ In 1947/48, the post-war economic recovery was hit by a balance of payment
deficits + dollar shortages.
➔ Created a focus on specifically Western European-based economic
initiatives/organisations.
➔ The US’ economic aid through the European Recovery Programme (Marshall
Aid) to promote greater economic cooperation.
Les avantages d'acheter des résumés chez Stuvia:
Qualité garantie par les avis des clients
Les clients de Stuvia ont évalués plus de 700 000 résumés. C'est comme ça que vous savez que vous achetez les meilleurs documents.
L’achat facile et rapide
Vous pouvez payer rapidement avec iDeal, carte de crédit ou Stuvia-crédit pour les résumés. Il n'y a pas d'adhésion nécessaire.
Focus sur l’essentiel
Vos camarades écrivent eux-mêmes les notes d’étude, c’est pourquoi les documents sont toujours fiables et à jour. Cela garantit que vous arrivez rapidement au coeur du matériel.
Foire aux questions
Qu'est-ce que j'obtiens en achetant ce document ?
Vous obtenez un PDF, disponible immédiatement après votre achat. Le document acheté est accessible à tout moment, n'importe où et indéfiniment via votre profil.
Garantie de remboursement : comment ça marche ?
Notre garantie de satisfaction garantit que vous trouverez toujours un document d'étude qui vous convient. Vous remplissez un formulaire et notre équipe du service client s'occupe du reste.
Auprès de qui est-ce que j'achète ce résumé ?
Stuvia est une place de marché. Alors, vous n'achetez donc pas ce document chez nous, mais auprès du vendeur giacomoef. Stuvia facilite les paiements au vendeur.
Est-ce que j'aurai un abonnement?
Non, vous n'achetez ce résumé que pour €9,99. Vous n'êtes lié à rien après votre achat.
