The idea of a European superstate. Public justification and European integration

Abstract:

This work argues that there is more to be said for a unitary European state than many people realise. The writer is not attracted to any of the halfway house proposals currently bandied about, but argues that to be an effective counterweight to the United States in international affairs the Union must become a ‘United States of Europe’.

The work is organised over seven chapters plus an introduction and a conclusion. Chapter one seeks to define the standards by which any justification of the European project must be bound. Chapter two examines the nationalist based form of Eurosceptism, while chapter three deals with the conservative nationalist Eurosceptism of Enoch Powell and the liberal nationalist form favoured by various contemporary British social democrats. Chapter four examines the welfare argument that might be put forward to justify the European project and chapter five looks at the security-based justifications. The following two chapters work on the security concept - in chapter six the writer examines the case for post sovereign polity in Europe, then chapter seven carries the argument for a soveriegn Europe and the security-based justification for a European superstate.

The work will interest scholars and students engaged in European Studies and anyone interested in European integration.

Glyn Morgan is Associate Professor of Government and Social Studies at Harvard University.

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