European Union

The subject of whether the European Union will still exist in the twenty-first century has prompted various authors to present arguments, each attempting to provide reasons to support their point of view. Leonard, Reid, Alesina, Giavazzi, and Robert Kagan are among the authors who have authored works based on the thesis.
As a political free thinker, Leonard contends that just because Europe appears to be weaker than America in the military does not indicate that America has authority over Europe. Leonard provides numerous reasons why Europe will succeed in the twenty-first century. Leonard explains that the European Union is expanding and has 25 members and this is one of his reasons as to why Europe will still run in the 21st century and the future in general. He says that the European is different from other countries because they adopt their own rules, which in the end become more influential. He says that Europeans have a very successful model, but the argument turns out to be less convincing because some countries in the east and south are more successful than Europe. Leonard always argues to defend Europe no matter the case (Leonard 37). For example, he says that the new American unilateralism is short-lived and not productive and has hopes that Europe will still rise and be hegemonic. He is very firm in his European tradition and believes that as Europe has been in the past, it will always be in the lead in the future. He is one of the enthusiasts of European Union integration and argues that Europe is not a universal example but an experience.

Alesinaand Giavazzi in their book the future of Europe. They argue whether Europe will decline or reform in the future, that is the 21st century. As per their recent research, they explain the European Union as the third enemy of the world peace after Israel and North Korea. They went ahead and explained that Europeans work for fewer hours and retire early. Will they really make for the 21st century by doing this? That is a big question on the future of Europe in the 21st century that seems to be more competitive. They compare Europe and Americans who work for long hours. Europeans as explained in the book view security of their jobs and stability as their rights and their happiness. Americans, on the other hand, can persevere hardships and unemployment as part of their market economy. Europeans view the concept of inequality as a major problem among them while America has accepted the situation and seems to be willing to live with it among them (Alesina, Giavazzi 108). The difference between Europe and other nations America being one of them is increasing. The shares of the economy of Europe in the world is predicted to be much lower in the twenty to thirty years to come that is the 21st century. Europe is losing its competitiveness compared to other nations in the world. Their political influence also seems to disappear when they lose their economic positions in the world. According to him economic influence and political influence goes hand in hand. Thus, a decline in the economy leads to political decline and vice versa. He argues that Europe cannot support a powerful military and thus they will soon lose their influential roles in the international organizations. According to Alesina and Giavazzi, the European does not seem to run in the 21st century with their culture of doing things.

According to the author Robert Kagan, paradise and power gives the analysis of the states of America and Europe and how they will be in the 21st century. That is he gives the comparison between the two and analyses their possible states in the future. He states that America and Europe no longer share a common culture thus the way of doing things between these two states are becoming more divergent. According to him, Europe is turning away from power to its own world of peacemaking America to be more powerful due to lack of competition. He goes ahead and says that it is becoming a historical paradise of power while the United States still shines in the power. Europeans fear America and that is why they are more cautious on the growing differences between the two states. Americans view the world in two dimensions that are they are either friends or enemies to them while the Europeans view other states in a complex way (Kagan 102). Americans tend to use force more quickly compared to Europeans who are more patient in exercising diplomacy. Americans would do anything to ensure that the threats are solved no matter the methods they use even if it means using force. Nevertheless, the Europeans tend to solve their problems in a peaceful and patient way, for instance, they can use diplomacy and negotiations. As an American living in Europe, he argues that Europe is more tolerant to failures. Kagan argues that Europe will still be running in the 21st century.

According to Reid, Europe has more votes in other international countries compared to the United States because Europe gives a lot of money to the organizations such as UN. His book mainly explains how Europe challenges the America, which is the super power. He gives examples of how Europe has economic growth and has gained market growth quickly compared to United States, which are their competitors. His arguments are based on the achievement of the European Union and how the union has come together, to outweigh America, which their power is only in the military but no other important fields (Reid 96). The union approaches their affairs in a different manner from that of the United States, for example, they have the common currency that is the Euro, and they exalt peace and exercise inviolable secularism. These features make them preferred by other countries than America who in most cases use force to find solutions to their threats. In his book the new superpower and the end of America supremacy, he argues that Europe will still be at the lead in the future and the 21st century.

How economic, cultural, social model affect European model according to different authors

Europeans single market and the single currency helps the member of the EU to conduct their businesses jointly and without limitations of different currencies. The step of using a common currency has increased their trade area thus having positive impacts on their economy. Internal tariffs and quota barriers were abolished in the year 1968 by the creation of single market, which increased easy movement of goods and services. The European economic agreement extended to countries instead of the political unions. Countries like Australia and Sweden were included (Console 96). The stabilization agreements extended to other countries such as Yugoslavia and they incorporated partnership with other countries that were successors of the European Union such as Russia.

Reid argument basing on the economy of European Union is that their economy has helped them be more competitive that is they have gained global market more compared to the United States, which is their competitors. According to Reid, the economy has been greatly contributed by the union of the many countries, and that is why they outweigh America. The European model is expanded and is comprised of many states. Therefore, this has an impact on the growth of their economy. In addition, their culture that is their way of doing things is good for instance; they use negotiations and diplomacy to clear disagreements between them. Basing on the economic factors and the cultural cultures, they will still be running in the 21st century according to Reid.

Basing on the argument by Robert Kagan, the culture of European Union is so good .he says that European and America no longer share the culture. He praises European countries for solving their issues in a diplomatic way and exercising peace. They view other nations in a more complex way. Thus, they can be able to form a partnership that will contribute to their economic growth. This is not the case with America who believes that if a nation is not a friend to them, then it is an enemy. Therefore, the argument is convincing that the European Union will be a superpower in the 21st century. Being a superpower does not only imply having a powerful military but also having a stable economy and the relationship with other nations (Kagan 22).

The arguments of Leonard that Europe has the most successful model than other states like America may seem less convincing because of other countries in the southwards, and eastwards that is not in the European Union but are more successful that members of EU. Nevertheless, generally, European Union is a successful model even if it is not the most successful (Leonard 74). Their culture of peace, diplomacy, and negotiations make their name to be viewed well by other nations. They also contribute more money in the organizations such as the United Nations organizations that is why it has many friendly countries that they can now trade with them. Their economy becomes stable through this, and thus they will still be in the run in the 21st century as they were always ahead in the past centuries.

The arguments by Alesina and Giavazzi that American model is a perfect model and thus no comparison between the European model and the United States model. America having that perfect model has many problems in it like the rate of poverty is higher and their cities are an embarrassment (Alesina 4). He adds that the health care in America is too expensive that even some of the Americans cannot afford to access treatment from the healthcare. However, the European Union has tried to establish a social welfare, which can be afforded by people of low social classes. Alesina and Giavazzi state that the possibility Europe both politically and economically is very possible in the 21st century.

Personal argument on whether the European Union will run in the 21st century

Basing on the arguments by different authors on whether Europe will be running in the 21st century or not, I can argue that they will run in the 21st century as well if they have been able to run in the past years. There are so many reasons to support this. First, a state that exercises diplomacy is able to make friendship with many other nations. Therefore, in the process of being friends, they are able to exchange ideas with each other and even trade. They can also form a partnership with each other, and the economy will be on the safe side. Adding to the economy, they can also ask for assistance or even assist other nation in times of need. Taking an example when their food security become wanting due to climatic changes, they can export food from other nations because they are friends even when they do not have the cash at hand. Meaning, they can also ask for financial assistance from other nations that they are friends with such as loans. Making peace with other nations will help the European nation economy be stable, as they will have many friends to do business with. The culture influences the economic growth in that way.

In times of attacks or threats from other nation, the issue can be solved by peaceful negotiations by the European Union. Instead of attacking back, the wise method of solving a conflict is discussing the cause of the conflict with the threatening nation and come up with a solution. This is the wise method of solving conflict that is to identify the root cause of the problem and correct if some corrections have to be made. This will establish a good concrete relationship between them, and even the country that was threatening to attack would see some sense in them. This will help the development of the European Union countries in that no attacks will drag them behind. European Union countries also know that they do not have that powerful military and the wise way of solving a misunderstanding would be diplomatic or preaching peace (Merino 85). I support their ways of solving conflict, and they will run in the 21stcentury because of their ways of solving disagreements. I second Leonard by saying that a powerful military does not mean that the nation is powerful. As stated from his book, America having the powerful military does not mean that is more powerful than the European Union.

Conclusion

From the different arguments by different authors, the possibility of the European Union shining in the 21st century is high. Comparing their culture, economic growth and their general relationships with other nations, we can conclude that they are headed towards their destiny of shining. The comparison made is mainly between Europe and other super power states such as the United States.











Work cited

Alesina, Alberto, and Francesco Giavazzi. The Future OfEurope. 1st ed., Cambridge, Mass., MIT Press, 2008,.

Console Battilana, Silvia. Lobbying The European Union Versus Lobbying The United States. 1st ed., 2007,.

European Union - United States Relations. 1st ed., Luxembourg, Office For Official Publications Of The European Communities, 2003,.

Friedberg, Aaron L. A Contest For Supremacy. 1st ed., New York, W.W. Norton, 2012,.

Kagan, Robert. Of Paradise And Power. 1st ed., New York, Vintage Books, 2013,.

Leonard, Mark. Europe Was The Future Once. 1st ed., London, Fabian Society, 2014,.

Macdonald, Terry. Global Stakeholder Democracy. 1st ed., Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2008,.

Merino, Nol︠. The European Union. 1st ed., Detroit, Greenhaven Press, 2008,.

Reid, T.R. The United States Of Europe. 1st ed., New York, N.Y. [Etc.], Penguin Books, 2005,.

Working For Peace, Security And Stability. 1st ed., Luxembourg, EUR-OP, 2007,.