The Next Step For the EU? Examining the Current Process of a Unified EU Military in the Context of Historical State Formation
Authors
Skjoldbro, Christian Bolt ; Resting-Jeppesen, Mia Dimke ; Armster, Matthias Walter
Term
4. term
Publication year
2019
Submitted on
2019-05-30
Pages
80
Abstract
Dette projekt undersøger, hvordan den historiske proces, hvor stater blev dannet, kan belyse den nuværende integrationsproces i EU. Udgangspunktet er teorier af North m.fl. og Charles Tilly, som begge antager, at sikkerhed og magtforhold er centrale drivkræfter i opbygningen af politiske institutioner. Projektet arbejder inden for realistiske antagelser (at aktører prioriterer sikkerhed og magt) og bruger dem til at forstå den aktuelle debat om et mere samlet europæisk forsvar, herunder Emmanuel Macrons forslag om et konsolideret europæisk militær, som blev bakket op af Angela Merkel. Den samtidige kontekst er eksterne pres som et mere selvsikkert Rusland, amerikansk nationalisme og Brexit. Metodisk bygger studiet på historisk dokumentanalyse og mønstermatchning: Det sammenligner EU’s integrationsspor med mønstre fra historisk statsdannelse for at vurdere, om teorierne kan forklare EU’s udvikling. En sekundær gevinst er en vis teoritestning, fordi teorierne prøves af i en ny kontekst. Analysen fokuserer først på North m.fl.s tre “doorstep conditions” (indledende betingelser) og søger ligheder og forskelle i EU’s interne integration. Dernæst diskuteres, med udgangspunkt i Tillys idé om at “krig skaber staten”, hvordan eksterne trusler kan forme integrationen. Et kritisk afsnit fremhæver forbehold og mulige hindringer for konklusionerne. Projektet konkluderer, at der er klare ligheder mellem historisk statsdannelse og EU’s nuværende kurs. Det finder, at betingelse 1 og 2 er opfyldt i EU’s struktur: retsstat for eliterne, varige organisationer og upersonlige udvekslinger. At nå betingelse 3 om et konsolideret militær kan imidlertid kræve et “big bang” – en større og pludselig forandring, der kan skubbe integrationen videre.
This thesis asks how the historical process of state formation relates to today’s process of European Union integration. It takes an innovative approach by comparing EU integration with patterns from historical state-building, drawing on theories by North et al. and Charles Tilly, which share the view that security and power are key drivers of political institutions. The analysis is framed by realist assumptions (that actors prioritize security and power), which connects to current debates about a more integrated European defense, including Emmanuel Macron’s proposal for a consolidated European military, endorsed by Angela Merkel. The contemporary backdrop is external pressure from an increasingly assertive Russia, U.S. nationalism, and Brexit. Methodologically, the study uses historical document analysis and pattern matching: it looks for parallels between EU integration and past state formation to assess whether these theories help explain the EU’s trajectory. A secondary outcome is partial theory testing by applying the theories to a new context. The analysis first examines North et al.’s three “doorstep conditions” and compares them to the EU’s internal integration for similarities and differences. It then turns outward, using Tilly’s idea that “war makes states” to consider how external threats may shape the EU’s integration. A critical chapter introduces obstacles and limits to the findings. The project concludes that there are clear similarities between historical state formation and the EU’s current path. It finds that conditions 1 and 2 are met within the EU: rule of law for elites, perpetual organizations, and impersonal exchanges. Advancing to condition 3, a consolidated military, may require a “big bang” — a major, sudden shift that propels integration forward.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
Keywords
Documents