United States of Europe: pros and cons

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

The United States of Europe is the idea put forward by the liberal left and became the basis for the implementation of the German concept of "Middle Europe", which has found its application in life so far in a transitional stage, in the form of the European Union. This idea has its own history dating back to the beginning of the 19th century. Many prominent political figures, monarchs and philosophers were carried away by her.

Preconditions for an idea

The constant and brutal wars that took place in Europe, the development of the economy, the search for new markets and the struggle for them between economically developed countries such as Japan, the USA, Russia, Germany, England, France, the growth of the revolutionary movement, elementary fear in front of such territorially large powers as Russia, the United States, currently China and India, forced political and public figures in Europe to look for ways out of this situation. One of them was the United States of Europe.

The story of the idea. 19th century

The slogan was first heard in August 1848 in Paris, where the Third Peace Congress was taking place at that time. The famous French writer Victor Hugo voiced the plan to create a commonwe alth of European countries. The prototype of the future Europe was the new state - the United States of America. This, as it seemed then, utopian idea found a large number of supporters and even more opponents.

Seeming absurd, she gradually took on the appearance of a model. Associations began to be created, which included people involved in the implementation of the idea of international cooperation and integration of European states. A magazine called "The United States of Europe" began to be published in Bern. Since 1867, the international "League of Peace and Freedom" began to exist, which included residents of different European countries, representing all classes. Many of them went down in history, these are Garibaldi, Mil, Bakunin, Ogarev, Hugo.

What Europe should look like after reunification

How did the followers of the unification idea imagine the United States of Europe? The main features of the new alliance were expressed by Victor Hugo with the general approval of his followers. According to his idea, the main features will be:

• No internal borders between states.
• Free internal movement of all residents of countries - members of the association (union).
• The total budget of the united states will be deficit-free.
• Free choice of religion.
• Freedomwords.
• To create a union, a basis is needed, which can be one of the states. The form of government will correspond to the state structure of this country.

Plans remained plans, as the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 began, which showed that everything in Europe is not as simple and rosy as liberals would like. It was torn apart by significant contradictions that led to the First World War.

Opponents of the idea

Doubts about the imminent creation of the United States of Europe expressed Russian revolutionary Mikhail Bakunin, an ardent supporter of the idea of unification. Studying this issue, he came to the conclusion that the nationalism and despotism of the regimes of France, Russia and Prussia stand in the way of the unification of European countries.

Even among the liberals of the West, who expressed the interests of capital, sound thoughts slipped about the premature implementation of the idea of the United States of Europe for the following reasons:

• The predominance of political interests over economic ones.
• The unwillingness of the peoples of Europe to give up national interests and independence.

Two views of the Social Democrats

The growth of the revolutionary movement led to the creation of various parties, which for the most part supported this slogan. This question was of keen interest to the Social Democrats. L. Trotsky declared in 1915 that after the end of the World War he sees Europe as a federal republic or the United States of Europe. In his opinion, thismust take place at the will and under the leadership of the proletariat. He emphasized that the evolution of the economy leads to the elimination of borders, if states continue to exist, then imperialism will be reborn.

It should be noted that the SSE slogan was very popular among the Social Democrats, in particular among members of the RSDLP. From a different point of view, its leader, Vladimir Lenin, approached this issue. He and his party categorically denied the establishment of the US through peaceful means.

Lenin and his view of the US

He outlined his view on this issue in the article "On the slogan of the United States of Europe". Lenin stressed that all talk about creating an association under the circumstances prevailing in 1915 is groundless, and as long as there are three monarchies - Russian, Austrian and German, the slogan about the US, simply speaking, is false.

On the other hand, any political revolution, such as the creation of a union of European countries, works in favor of the socialist revolution. Lenin divided the slogan "United States of Europe" into two parts:

• Political. This part of the slogan in terms of overthrowing the three monarchies suited the Russian Social Democrats quite well. Since their main political task was the overthrow of the Russian autocracy.
• Economic. This part could not suit the Social Democrats, since the export of capital and the division of spheres of influence of the financial elite intensify the exploitation and enslavement of the inhabitants of third countries, which is completely impossible and even reactionary for the socialist revolution.

According to Lenin, the United States of Europe is an agreement that provides for the usual distribution of colonies. In his opinion, the billionaire will not give up spheres of influence or the export of his capital to less developed countries, where he is provided with income. He will not share his profits fairly. He will not divide the national income to his detriment. To hope so is Proudhonism and stupidity.

Is an agreement between capitalists and powers possible

According to Lenin, temporary agreements, such as the United States of Europe, are possible. This happens when a common enemy appears - socialism or more economically developed states. That is, as a result of the threat of a socialist revolution or to protect their colonies against more powerful growing states: the USA and Japan.

Alternative to the United States of Europe, Lenin (in the summary of the article one cannot fail to mention this) opposes the United States of the World as an indicator of victorious socialism. But in this case, it would be wrong for the Social Democrats to take it into action, since this can be interpreted as the impossibility of the victory of socialism throughout the world.

Union of European States against the USSR

Lenin's conclusions about the creation of the SSE as a weapon against other states not subject to the major powers of Europe were confirmed in October 1942. At this time, the USSR fought fierce battles with the Nazi invaders, in particular, there was a battle near Stalingrad. It was then that Prime Minister Churchill sent outmembers of the cabinet a secret memorandum, the purpose of which was to implement the idea of creating a coalition of European states against the USSR.

It was based on the fear of the victory of the Soviet Union over the Nazis. Churchill proposed the creation of the Council of Europe, which would lead the actions against the USSR. He expressed hope for the creation of the USE, the purpose of which was the economic enslavement of underdeveloped European countries.

How true were Churchill's words about saving ancient European cultures from Russian barbarians, and what goals did he pursue with this document? After all, it was the Soviet Union that fought against Germany, which brought most of Europe to its knees. If we consider his proposals for the creation of the Council of Europe, which will include 10-12 representatives of developed European states, its own army, police, Supreme Court, it becomes clear that England will play the main role in it.

Failure of the Churchill plan

In 1943, the Prime Minister arrived with his plan in the United States, where he proposed the creation of an Association of European States, led by the United States and England. Here his idea of creating the United States of Europe and Asia was voiced, in other words, he proposed the creation of a world government headed by England, the USA and China, which at that time was a semi-colony of England.

Management was to be carried out by the World Supreme Council. The SSE, the regional councils of the American countries and the countries of the Pacific Ocean were to be subordinate to him. In all councils, the leading role was assigned to England. It is quite natural that the vast majoritymost of the countries included by him in the USA, as well as the USA, did not agree with this alignment. If you look closely, this memorandum was directed not only against the USSR, but also against US influence in Europe.

The Americans sought to start hostilities in Western Europe as soon as possible in order to stop the Russians, to prevent them from liberating even more countries, Churchill wished and waited, delaying the opening of a second front, weakening both the USSR and Germany. It was these disagreements and the plans of the Americans in relation to the countries of Europe that did not allow the creation of the USS after the Second World War.

Modern creation ideas

In our time, the creation of the SSE still haunts the minds of many politicians. Thus, in 2002, the former President of France Giscard d'Estaing, in the draft report "Conventions on the Future of Europe", proposed to rename the EU to the United States of Europe by creating a confederation, which should include 30 states. Over time, this association is renamed.

All citizens of the countries included in the confederation have dual citizenship. The state of the united Europe elects its own president and government, each state also has its own president and government. A parliament is elected, which includes parliamentarians from all member countries. The leader of the German Social Democrats, M. Schultz, set the deadline for building the USS by 2025.