Hi class,
the end is near. Today in class we presented what we have learned on each region of Europe. For Friday read chapter 14 - Today's Issues - and answer the following questions on loose-leaf paper. You will turn in these at the beginning of the class.
1. Discuss the roots of the Balkan conflict. What is at stake and what has happened to present day?
2. How did the different ethnic groups take sides during World War II?
3. Explain the idea of the creation of a Greater Serbia.
4. How did the war in Bosnia and the war in Kosovo differ?
5. How has the rest of the world gotten involved in the Balkan conflicts?
Next, read the case study on page 326-328. Answer the following questions:
6. How did the idea of the EU originate? How has it become what it is today?
7. Why does the UK not use the euro? Is this hypocritical?
Finally, respond to this question in a blog response:
Will there one day be a United States of Europe? What advantages/disadvantages are there to this idea? What is your opinion on the matter?
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12 comments:
DJ:
If there will one day be a Unitede States of Europe? hmm, i would say not. European union is here to stimulate the european economy, establish a common law among european countries and prevent war. EU is probably too diverse to all submit under one organization. Also, i think too many countries are still there for personal interest. The wealthy countries will have to pay large amounts (ALOT alot alot alot of money) that will then be distributed among the poorer countries of europe (that is, what i believe, to be why wealthy norway wont join...). Alot of East european countries now want to become a member of the EU to benefit from this budget, but the wealthier countries dont (as much) because they will have to pay. Its kinda like a charity but very different. The reason the Netherlands has joined the EU, is, i think, to finally set some ground rules that should acount for all countries, a law that is internationally known, and i think our politicians like the idea of freedom around europe. People can travel among other EU countries without having to get a VIsa and going through the whole border patroll thing. nyways, i think and hope Europe will become a more efficient like United States, a little less of somethings and a little more of others... meh, i like EU...srry for my spelling and stuff but this laptop keyboard is rlly small.
I don't believe it would be a really good idea to have a United States of Europe. First of all because there are so many different ethnic groups and many cultures, it wouldn't really function. There would be conflict because people aren't always willing to making compromise when it affects their culture because they don't want to lose their sense of identity. Also like DJ said, the richer states would have to give money to the poorer states to balance out the wealth within "the united States of Europe." Having one nation though may bring more unity to Europe and therefore more control. But i think the disadvantages outweigh the advantages and there would be a lot of disagreement. This is the same reason why many people do not agree with having the united States of Africa meanwhile many leaders are fighting for it to exist.
i dont think that one day that there would be a "United States of Europe. I have many reasons for saying that. One reason is that I think that the "United States of Europe" would not be good for the culture of Europe. All European contries have their own culture and i think if they came part of the "United States of Europe," then they'd sort of loose that sense of unity, because it would be a combined culture with the rest of the states.
Another reason i dont think that a "United States of Europe" would work is that i think that there are too many countries presently trying to be in the European Union already, like Turkey, and other Eastern European countries, and i think that if you had a "United States of Europe," that could cause a problem because some of those countries dont have as good of economies as western and northern Europe, so that would affect the economy.
So to wrap it up, the United States thing worked for America, but i dont think it will work for Europe. The United States worked for America worked because they started the "United States" when America was just a young country and just expanding. Europe has been around for centuries, and i dont think that they want to change anything after being the same way for 100's of years.
I don't think there will ever be a United States of Europe, because each country in Europe is pretty much different and have different politics. The first problem would be to find a presedint, with who the majortity is fine with, because the countries people are to different. Europe is very diverse and the Eu couldn't be submitted under one organization. It might sound stupid but I think taht a few countries might be to proud to join this. There are after all a lot of countries you would consider poor and then the ones that are more rich, which would then become responsible for the poor countries. So I really don'T think these countries such as Norway, England, Belgim, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Germany, France would agree. Through the EU the countries are already connected and suppot each other. This is for a lot of countris an advantage and have a better life since the EU is established. And thats the point, the Eu is for my opinion giving the countries enough contract so an organization like the United states is not necessary.
A United States of Europe is not a good idea and is not practical. Europe consists of many nations, ethnic groups, culture, and separate histories, and the people are all very different. The people of Europe will not abandon their nationalities to be part of a single European cell. This sort of thing worked in the US because the union was formed very early in its history. However, each of the countries of Europe already have their own centuries of history behind them, and their nationalities and cultures are very distinguished, too distinguished to be mushed together into one "USE." Also, there are, as yet, too many conflicts and opposing ideas/interests to be working alongside each other. Finally, the economic statuses of the different nations in Europe are too different for it to have stability, balance, and equality for everyone. As said by the others, the richer countries would be left with the burden of boosting the economy of the entire union and for the poorer countries, while the latter simply benefit from it. Also, as Adam said, having weaker economies would affect the entire union and become a drag.
i dont thin a united states of europe would ever work, the countries are too diverse themselves to become one country and with europes history with one another, i dont think rival countries would ever come together. the way the people run their goverment is way too different and the rich countries would have to pay a lot to make the poorer countries more developed than they already are. the reason the united states really worked was because the people had the same beliefs and sort of had the same culture, they were very young back then. i think parts of europe are too developed and old to suddenly become part of some united states of europe, also the americans had a common enemy when gaining independece. the countries of europe all have a different story and all got where there are all now through different ways
i don't know maybe there could be a united states of europe but the title would sorta have to change lol. True there are many different cultures and ethic groups and at first it may not be the most steddy of governments but most are when their born. all im saying is thats a strong possiblity that at first it may not work out but that doesn't mean that in later times it will fail again .
Christopher Bernicat.
*JORGE CHE GUEVARA*
In my opinion, there never will be a United States of Europe for both political and demographical/geographical reasons. The group of countries that can now be identified as members of Europe are incredibly diverse and no matter how much effort is put into it they will not be able to contract into one grand nation. Centuries of wars and bloodshed are still on the minds of the Europeans and racism is very common in the five rich European countries (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain). I Spain, although it seems incredible the right wing extremist and moderate parties still manage to get votes using racism as an electoral promise.
EU is good as it is, as a common group of politically, geographically and ethnically different countries.
Well as DJ said there will never be a united states of Europe. And if there was one it would be like globalization and i know that some cultures would be kept but the vast majority of cultures lost would greatly outweigh the amount saved, The richest countries would have to spoon feed the samller younger countries with tones of money and technology happering the already advanced countries route to the future and bringing every country to the same level don't matter if a country is already far ahead or far behind. and people would disagree if something is in threat like their identity and history and conflict would arise. sometimes its better to be independent, sometimes when u are alone u know who u are and u don't confuse your habits or history with someone else.
i highly doubt that there will be a united states of europe. there are over 40 countrie in europe. to unite all of these countries will take an enprmous amount of will power co operation and synergie. it would espesially be hard to convincee major powers of europe to all join example UK. european countries are all fierce nationalists and therfore this may cause problems with unifying. they would have to deal with a difference in policies and politics for countries.
there would also be an unfair balance. some countries will be contibuting more than other countries and yet recieving roughly the same as the smaller countries. it would seem like a modern form of light communsim.i think this plan would be efficient for small countries but for larger countries to also all join would be pretty unrealistic.
the main issue though is time. what some people don't seem to get is how long a process like this could take. it took the states over 50 years to unite 13 states. these states mind you didnt have presidents or government or fierce nationalism and yet it took as long as it did. it haas taken the US at least a century to get 51 states. it would thus be unrealistic to expect a united states of europe in our lifetime
I doubt that there will be a United States of Europe. The countries that exist there currently have been living as seperate, independent countries, not just provinces of a greater country, so it would be very difficult to just change that around. Also, it would be extremely difficult to unify Europe's people under a single culture and language because each country has a unique way of living. If the unification of Europe did happen, though, what happened in Africa would happen there. In Africa, after all the colonial powers left and the countries were independent, one legacy remained: the multiple borders that the colonial powers had once agreed on. These borders joined peoples with various cultures into the same country and even spurred many of the ethnic rivalries that have occurred there over the last century, such as the Rwandan Genocide, the present-day Darfur conflict, and the Casamance conflict in Senegal. The people of Europe would be drawn into an eternal war if a United States of Europe came to be, destroying Europe's diversity and rich cultures.
Some advantages are potential peace between countries with strong tensions (the Balkan Peninsula) and a HUGE economy combining the assets of every single country in Europe. Some disadvantages are the losing of Europe's diversity, conflicts between two peoples coexisting in the same area, and potential war between some of the "states" in Europe.
In my opinion, the United States of Europe will never happen, but all of the countries in Europe joining the European union WILL.
I think that the European Countries should be independent and hold on to their rich histories. Each country is unique in its way, therefore they should preserve their identities. Am not saying that coming together is something bad, but it has consequences.
Aicha Diallo
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