Is Europe evolving to "supranationalism," that is a United States of Europe, or are nationalistic and ethnic irredentist designs creating devolution or splitting of existing states?

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Geography Mid-Term Exam

Question #2

SS111, Geography I


     Is Europe evolving to “supranationalism,” that is a United States of Europe, or are nationalistic and ethnic irredentist designs creating devolution or splitting of existing states?  Discuss the ongoing European unification efforts, as well as those states experiencing ethnic autonomy movements.  Make an estimate as to which trend will prevail.

     No country seems to immune from devolutionary forces, even in modern Europe.  Britain has its Scotland, France its Corsica, Spain its Basques and Catalans, the former Yugoslavia, and there are several others throughout the realm.  However, one must look to the creation of the European Union (EU) and German reunification as the “silver lining” of supranationalism, a force of modern Europe that, at this point in history, seemingly will not be stopped.

     It would seem there are many arguments for supranationalism, with the strongest being that countries participating in multinational association are less likely to take unilateral actions.  On the other hand, many Europeans are against the European Union’s notion of one Europe, largely because of nationalistic ideas of the past two centuries.

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     Since 1871, Germany, either in part or in whole, has continued to dominate the overall European economy, and has twice plunged the continent into a world war.  This fact frightens many citizens of other European nations, because both were entirely of nationalistic design, with Germany attempting to, in the worlds of Kaiser Wilhelm II, “find her place in the sun.”  Strangely enough, it’s today’s Germany that finds herself one of the major proponents of supranationalism.  Perhaps this is because the German government hopes to assume more of a leadership role in unified Europe, and this could still be ...

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