Can the EU be a Superpower? - Kings and Generals Modern DOCUMENTARY

Script: Dimitris Naziris
Video: Asterman Digital Production Company
Narration: OffyD

#Documentary #Kingsandgenerals #EuropeanUnion

[Luthies]

Have to say the title of this video is quite misleading. I was expecting a video exploring the political and regulatory influence the EU has in the world, not a theorizing video about potential Federal EU. Still enjoyed it even though I got a different video than I was expecting :D

[Daffmeister]

Watching this as a Norwegian is funny when you remember "Oh yeah... we're not in the EU, this is not about us." halfway through the video.

[matteoacquarelli]

my main issue is that the question "can X be a superpower" is never followed by "what is a superpower". Citing Lebovic (2008), and Brooks & Wohlfort (2014) would have been a start, since power projection is commonly seen as a basic requirement. Not easy, mind you, as I'm trying to do just that in a paper. But you can't simply sum elements of national power and call it a day - nor can you disregard hard power.

[raulpetrascu]

It's interesting you say that the existence of the EU too was unimaginable. This seems to be the biggest recurring theme when it comes to the formation of states: Germany a united state? Preposterous! All the different Greek states coming together as 1 nation? Impossible! They're so culturally different, they hate eachother etc etc. Based on the pattern all a European (Con)Federation would need is an external enemy, and a Bismarck/Phillip/Cavour, Mazzini, Garibaldi figure (or Aethelstan to go really far back). Obviously European countries are more similar to eachother than to say China and by stressing that rather than differences is how these nations came to be. But probably requires a high pressure situation / war to forget the obstacles and inconveniences and push them together (starting with a loose confederation etc)

[paulwood]

0:50 You're wrong. The Schuman Declaration called for a single country as a federal union to be formed: "The pooling of coal and steel production should immediately provide for the setting up of common foundations for economic development as a first step in the federation of Europe, ...". The first line proper of the Treaty of Rome calls for 'ever closer union', which refers to a single federal union.

[Nasir]

From an insiders perspective, the EU is a lot less the United States of Europe and more of a confederation of European nation states. The system requires a lot of compromises for it to work and not fall apart. France wants the EU to be a military geopolitical power that can rival both the US and China but other countries like Denmark, which didn’t have an imperialistic legacy, don’t share France’s militaristic vision.

[orsotoro]

Also, be aware that the EU is now looking to abolish the national veto, so that a majority vote by members will then be sufficient to change their policies, rather than an unanimous vote at present.

[aayushdasgupta]

Well, well, well. This was the research question of my 12th grade school project, which was on the EU. And our project group came to the conclusion that EU is more like a 'civilian power' than a 'military power', and hence can't really be called a superpower in a conventional sense. It is really influential in economic matters and soft power in general, but lacking behind in military matters which can be resolved if the EU functioned more like a proper state than a regional organisation.

Man, this is bringing back memories of late night discussions on our project file.

[zaros]

The funny contradiction that we have in Europe is that people quickly get spooked by 'European Federation/superpower' or 'giving up sovereignty'. But pretty much everybody wants more cooperation > more integration between European countries.

[LoneWanderer]

"members of a theoretical federal state could leave the organization, or change their relationship at anytime"

United States: "that's actually against the rules"

[feanor]

"Europe is too big to be united, but too small to be divided - its dual destiny is here ..."

- Daniel Faucher

[Dendarang]

A better question is: would the EU want to be a superpower? Being a superpower is a massive pain in the ass and it means being drawn into endless conflicts and crises the world over and it means constantly dealing with all the events of the entire world. I think a much better idea for the EU is to focus on strategic and economic autonomy, building up its own military strength to the point where it can credibly defend all its borders, its own economy to the point where it's mostly self sufficient in key respects and its own navy to the point where it can control its own marginal seas chiefly Mediterranean. An EU that's wealthy, independent, secure, federal and at the forefront of technological development is what I want to see, not necessarily an EU that has its fingers in every pie in the world.

[cosminivan]

There already exists a pan-european party with some succes in many counties. They have an MEP (from Germany), MPs in the Dutch parliament and the Bulgarian one, and many other members in local and municipal councils, the name of the party is Volt and considering that the video was about European Federalization, one of their key policies, I think it is relevant to mention them

[catalyst]

At this point might as well just restore the Roman Empire

[MajinOthinus]

Interestingly, the German Empire would serve as an almost ideal template for European integration. All that really would need to change are three things:

1. There would need to be majority rule (as opposed to unanimity) in the Council of the EU and hey, we're almost there already

2. There would need to be a common command structure and leader *during war time.* Something that should be doable, considering NATO is most of the way there already.

3. A slight prevalence for EU foreign policy over national one. Probably the most difficult, but certainly achieveable.

Other than that, we're basically already there. Legally speaking at least. The only current caveat being the ability of member states to leave; which would mostly not impact decision making.

[boxinghistory]

Unity all the way ! Stronger together !

[Ruben-byoy]

As an Armenian I would say the majority of our country wants to join the EU right now. We have done a lot for that. Corruption is low, democracy and free speech level is high, even higher than in some EU countries.

[marcello]

I really hope to see a Federal European Union, at least to see European countries cooperating in a more coordinated way when it comes to foreign policy and dealing with superpowers like the US and China.

[DanielNistrean]

I'm against sovereignty of individual EU countries. We need to stick together.

[h.k.]

thansk for this one!
well made, as all your vids.