Denis McLaughlin Post I

The case of the European Union is an extraordinary one, with roots stretching back to the European Economic Community in order to integrate Europe’s economy in the hopes of avoiding a third world war. Thomas Friedman notes this in his book, The World is Flat¸ indicating that we are entering into a feasibly Post-War era because of economic integration. While Friedman is not the subject of this discussion, he offers an interesting perspective.

The E.U. is also interesting because it does seem to indicate a change in the realm of international politics and political structure, it is one of the more successfully supra-national organizations, bringing to mind the question of whether we are entering into a Post-Westphalia system of international relations. Wright, however, brings up interesting points using Great Britain and the movements (compounded by recent discoveries of oil off the coast of Scotland) for sovereignty in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland – in the case of Northern Ireland, a return to the Republic of Ireland rather than sovereignty. Many of these issues were mitigated by the introduction of devolution, or allowing more sovereignty in these areas in order to appease those populations.

Whether the European Union will ultimately be successful in its endeavors remains to be determined, however, it is acting contrary to the individual interests of its member states, seeming to progress in the opposite direction of Great Britain. Giving member states greater amounts of autonomy would possibly undermine its entire goal, however, in order to avoid greater stresses, it may have to do so.