How unique is the EU?

A n n m a r i e E l i j a hA N U C e n t r e f o r E u r o p e a n S t u d i e s

Europe in 2014Summer School January 21-23

What is the European Union?

An international organisation?

A fledgling state?

Something new and unique?

What is the European Union?

Five decades of integration

Incremental change by Treaty process

Prevention of conflict in Europe

Single Market and ‘four freedoms’

What is the European Union?

How does the EU behave internationally?

The n=1 puzzle

How can we begin to explain the European Union?

Complex theories developed to explain the process federalism, functionalism, neo-functionalism, intergovernmentalism…

Explanations do not readily ‘fit’ other regions Other regions did not evolve as expected

Does n=1?

Study of the EU turns ‘inwards’ Attention to internal politics instead of comparison

Meanwhile, in the rest of the world…

Other regions All shapes and sizes,

‘acronym soup’

Ideas about integration have diffused

Policy makers both copy and reject the European model

The trans-Tasman case

Closer to home…

Australian states have been ‘integrating’ since federation

Since ANZCERTA (1983) Australia and New Zealand have been working on a single market

The trans-Tasman case

Conclusions

The European Union is unique The most developed, most visible case of integration Institutional structure distinguishes it from states and

international organisations Achievements are remarkable

But not the ONLY case of integration Regions elsewhere are developing on their own terms Economic integration can happen differently