Evolution of the European Union and the Concept of Underdevelopment
January: Founding Process of the EU
Following the devastation of World War II, Europe sought lasting peace. European integration was seen as a way to overcome strong nationalism.
The first step was the Benelux Economic Union, formed by Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg in 1949. It established a domestic market with free customs transit of persons and services.
In 1950, the Schuman Plan proposed integrating coal and steel production, the basis of heavy industry, in Europe. This led to the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). It encouraged cooperation and aimed to eliminate internal competition. Founding members included France, West Germany, the Benelux countries, and Italy.
Meeting in Rome in 1957, the ECSC members created the European Economic Community (EEC) with the Treaty of Rome, aiming for a common European market.
The first country to join later was the United Kingdom in 1973, which required adjustments due to its Commonwealth agreements. Denmark and Ireland also joined that year, bringing the total to nine member states. The 1973 Arab-Israeli War caused an energy crisis and economic problems in Europe.
In 1981, Greece became the tenth member, followed by Spain and Portugal five years later. The 1986 Single European Act aimed to eliminate obstacles to the free movement of goods, creating the ‘single market’.
The Maastricht Treaty, signed on February 7, 1992, in the Netherlands, was a landmark agreement.
Fundamentals of the Maastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty built upon the Treaty of Rome (1957) by:
- Forming a domestic economic space with free movement of goods, capital, and people.
- Ensuring economic growth compatible with environmental protection.
- Creating the European Monetary Union.
- Reaffirming a common EU identity.
- Cooperating on justice and internal security.
- Developing supranational legislation.
- Gradually establishing EU citizenship with equal rights across member states, symbolized by the EU passport.
- Respecting national identities of member states.
Citizens showed concern for environmental protection and joint security and defense. In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU. The Schengen agreements gradually allowed passport-free travel within member states. Millions of young people studied abroad with EU support.
The September 11, 2001 attacks led to closer EU cooperation against terrorism.
The Concept of the ‘Third World’
The term ‘Third World’ has political origins. It was first used in 1955 by sociologist Alfred Sauvy to refer to countries that were neither socialist nor capitalist during the Cold War. These countries, calling themselves ‘non-aligned,’ met for the first time in Bandung, Indonesia.
The Bandung Conference (April 18-24, 1955) aimed to promote Afro-Asian economic and cultural cooperation, opposing colonialism and neocolonialism. It established principles for international relations within the Non-Aligned Movement:
- Respect for fundamental human rights and the UN Charter.
- Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Recognition of equality of all races and nations.
- Non-intervention in internal affairs.
- Respect for the right of self-defense in accordance with the UN Charter.
- Refraining from collective defense arrangements serving great power interests.
- Abstention from pressure on other countries.
- Refraining from aggression and use of force against territorial integrity or political independence.
- Peaceful resolution of international disputes.
- Promotion of mutual interest and cooperation.
- Respect for justice and international obligations.
The conference had political, economic, and cultural committees. Its final statement addressed economic and cultural cooperation, human rights, self-determination, problems of dependent peoples, peace, global cooperation, and condemned racial discrimination and radioactivity.
Over time, ‘Third World’ became synonymous with underdevelopment.
Indicators of Underdevelopment
Indicators are variables used to measure or quantify collective events and actions to support policies, evaluate achievements, and set goals. They allow for objective assessment and comparison over time and across different situations.
Indicators of underdevelopment include:
- Economic: Low GDP, low GDP per capita, trade deficits, dominance of primary economic activities, lack of scientific research, high unemployment.
- Social: Low calorie intake, low life expectancy, high birth rate, illiteracy, child labor.
- Political: Weak democratic regimes.
It’s important to distinguish between indicators and the phenomena they measure, such as hunger or poverty.