Evaluate the view thatEuropean integration and not, extended cooperation between states, was the onlyconceivable basis for peace in Europe in the post 1945 period.

Evaluate the view that European integration and not, extended cooperation between states, was the only conceivable basis for peace in Europe in the post 1945 period.

As once Winston Churchill stated in his speech in 1946, establishing such a form of European single unity has been considered as a 'desirable' way that Europe should ultimately reach. Although a starting point for the debate in the realm of European integration is the end of Second World War, the European Union of as it is today seems mainly the result of the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community. In particular, during the 1950s European integration was often called European federalization, although in discussions about European integration, the meaning of federalism remained obscure in nowadays. Also, there is a view that sees the European union as a purely economic unity. This essay will concern the historical elements that led states into creating the Community.

Economic condition in Europe was such terrible suffer to almost all European countries, after the end of the war which took place from 1939 to 1945. With widely destroyed infrastructure, harmed production and millions of refugees due to the war, the need for making changes was seemed to definite. This especially benefited parties of the left in countries such as Britain, France and Italy as the public did not want to return to the pre-war conditions. In addition to this, the support for nationalism weakened so that it made a foundation for the establishment of the European Union of Federalists (EUF) in 1946.

The first conference organized by the EUF was in 1948. Despite his hopeful statement towards a single unity of Europe, Churchill's statement was only the indication of the Britain's negative attitude towards the Community: Britain was not very interested in being a leader or even taking a part of forming a supranational organization. Although the Hague Congress created such fundamental foundation for the establishment of the Council of Europe, the Congress itself did not maintain in significance in terms of providing realistic aspects of developing the Community in federalists' direction. At this time of period, "European integration was not to be achieved in one great act of political will, because the will was not there"(George & Bache 2001). In 1947, national governments were not remotely willing to surrender their national sovereignty to any extent. What they were mostly focused on was economic reconstruction throughout the states.

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Understanding the context of the Cold War, the tension between the capitalist West and the Communist Soviet Union, is also essential to characterise the origins of the EU. Churchill condemned the Soviet Union of creating 'iron curtain', as they started to spread out the installation of communist regimes in the countries of central and Eastern Europe. The United States eventually responded by announcing the Marshal Plan for helping the Europe on post-war reconstruction, which was aiming to avoid communist states installed: the American feared of spreading communism in parts of Europe. The Marshal Plan, therefore, offered financial and food aid to Europe to assist mainly its economic recovery, and the offer of the aid was under certain conditions requiring joint action of European states. Although the Soviet Union denied the aid, the Committee for European Economic Co-operation was formed to reflect the bindings of European countries, and this later transformed to the Organization for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC). The aim of the OEEC was to create mainly the basis for the needs on future supranational economic management of Europe.

Especially, there is a view that the single unity of European community was established basically to achieve such a durable peace between France and Germany. In history, they had been at war with each other three times in the preceding eight decades. They were attempting to find a way to live together within perpetual peace and hence, they needed to priorities fundamental political policies (J. Pinder 2002).

The prospect of a completely independent Germany was such a threat for France as Germany was potentially formidably industrial. After the First World War during 1914 to 1918, the French had tried to keep Germany down, but they had failed. The idea seemed more promising that binding Germany within strong institutions, which would equally bind France and other European countries and thus be acceptable to Germans over the longer term (J. Pinder 2002). Finally that promise has been amply fulfilled in a way that the French has regarded the European Community (EC), and now the European Union (EU), as the outcomes of their original initiatives. This is the one became the central project of their European policy. At the same time, French was to play the important part as a leader among European states. Despite the considerable success, there was certain participation in these European institutions on equal basis and this has also given the Germans a framework in which to develop peaceful and constructive relations with the growing number of other member states (J. Pinder 2002).

After the twelve years of ruling of Nazi in German which eventually ended with devastation in 1945, the Community intended to become one of the world's power again. Indeed, the idea of equality was what made the Communists attractive. However, Schuman declared that the new Community would be "the first concrete foundation of a European federation which is indispensable to the preservation of peace." (J. Pinder 2002). Therefore, it is important to note that the political ruling class in German, the group of politicians who were thoroughly engaged with the concept of federal democracy, has quite constantly supported such a development, whereas the commitment made by French was to develop the Community in a 'federal' direction. Indeed, an amendment to the Basic Law of the reunited Germany provided for its participation in the European Union committed to federal principles in 1992 (J. Pinder 2002).

Moreover, there were other four founder states including Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. They also viewed the new European Community as a means of ensuring the creation of peace, by binding Germany within those strong European institutions. Like the Germans they saw the Community as a stage in the development of a federal polity. Although the memory of World War Two is retreating into the more distanted past, the motives toward the complete peace and security, which was thought to be fundamental to the foundation of the formation of the Community, still remains a powerful influence on governments and politicians in the those founder states, as "the system that has provided a framework for half a century of peace is regarded as a guarantee of future stability." (J. Pinder 2002). The decision made to consolidate it is an example that by introducing the single currency, it was seen as a way to reinforce the safe port of the potentially more powerful Germany, after it has reunified. In the next coming period, there will be continuing pressure to strengthen the Union’s institutions in order to maintain its stability as enlargement takes place in eastern Europe. The enlargement process will increase the number of member states towards broader terms of Europe, including at least a dozen of new democracies.

Whilst a profound political motive for establishing the European Union is being a durable peace, adequate performance in the economic field has been the one given its powers. In fact, the European Union did serve economic as well as political logic. The frontiers among countries like France, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg, standing between steel plants and the mines whose coal they required, delayed rational production, as a result. More importantly, the removal of those barriers, which was accompanied by the common governance of the common market, was successful in terms of execrating economic prosperity. The fact that the peaceful reconciliation was being achieved among the member states actually encouraged them to view the European Coal and Steel Community as a first attempt towards the formation of a single unity in a process of both political and economic unification. It is argued that when the French National Assembly failed to ratify a treaty for a European Defence Community in 1954, it was such a false attempt towards the second step. The six founder states proceeded on the path of economic integration.

Furthermore, when the European Economic Community (EEC) was founded in 1958, the concept of the common market was extended to the meaning that of mutual trade in goods which opens up new ways to an integrated economy, and this responded to the logic of economic interdependence among the member states within the Community.

Since French insisted the common market with a common external tariff, the EEC was also able to enter into trade negotiations on the levels in terms of being with the United States, and this clearly indicated that the potential of the European Union, becoming a major actor in the international system, if it has a common instrument with which to conduct an external policy. It was the first step towards satisfying another motive for creating the Community; to restore European influence in the wider world, which had been dissipated by the two World Wars.

In addition, the Britain stood aside from the Community in the 1950s. It is fair to say that they failed to understand the strength of the case for such reform. However, there was one such exception when Winston Churchill said in a speech in Zurich in 1946 that "We must now build a kind of United States of Europe ... the first step must be a partnership between France and Germany ... France and Germany must take the lead together" (J. Pinder 2002). Even though there were a few exceptions, among the member states, the British understood so well the case for a new European Community that it would be disadvantaged in future continental markets and they will be excluded from taking such important policies and decisions made within. Hence, successive British governments sought entry into the Community in 1973. However, while the British took a leading part in developing the common market into a more complete single market, they continued to lack the political motives that have driven the founder states, as well as some others, to press towards other forms of deeper integration.

Since the end of the Second World War, Europe has evolved through various forms. The suspicions and hostilities were the main concerns that the most of European states were faced with. The United States and the Soviet Union were vacuuming the military and economic power from Western Europe so that they began to from a single unity of Europe by integrating their coal and steel industries, which have eventually given the firm foundation for the European Union as it appears today. The motives of integration were to provide stability within the area in the post-war period. Economic and political reconstruction also took place. After several years of development, the establishment of the single market is almost completed. Even though with the existence of current concerns such as the limitations on the constitution and the approval of the enlargement or undermining the national sovereignty within the Community, The European Union plays an significant role as powerful supranational organization in the international system. It is fair to state that the original motives of achieving the peace and stability within 'single' Europe, has been accomplished.