Globalization and (dis)order

2/8/17

Europe from the 18th to the 20th century (broadly)

• gripped by nationalist sentiment, conflict and warfare.
  • Napoleonic Wars 1803-1815
  • Crimean War 1854-1856
  • Wars of Italian Independence 1848-1866
  • World War 1 (1914-1918)
  • World War 2 (1939-1945)

The nation, democracy and its undoing in Europe

 

The European Union is a federal union that encompasses 28 European States

 

Born of the World Wars: How to end conflict? 

The European Economic Community

1958

The Maastricht treaty and the European Union

1993

The Noble Peace Prize

2012

The Euro

2002

The Eurozone crises

2009- 2015

What are the benefits of being a EU member?

 

• Free movement of goods and people
• lower cost on consumer goods
• strong legislative tradition regarding human rights
• political strength in a multi-polar world
• Less military conflict

 

and negatives?

• A loss of sovereignty
• payment of dues
• threat of job loss and government resources to 'outsiders'

President of the European Union 

Donald Tusk

EU currently facing three threats: 

• Multiple superpowers and increasing unpredictability
• "anti-EU, nationalist and increasingly xenophobic sentiment within the EU"
• "A decline of faith in political integration, submission to populist arguments as well as doubt in the fundamental values of liberal democracy"

Brexit

Questions

1.     What steps has the European Union taken toward creating a shared identity among member states? Why is this important for political and economic integration?

 

2. What is the role of story-telling in nation building? Who gets to be the story-teller?

 

3.     In O’toole’s opinion, Is England a nation? How does he use England’s history to support his argument his point?

 

4.  Who are the elites in Shore's article? What are their behaviors? Is Shore's usage similar to the American context? What are the implication of this for politics?

 

5.     Think about the use of tradition in your own life. Specifically focus on local and family traditions and the various ways they may have shaped your behaviors and sense of self. How do these traditions impact your personal and interpersonal life?