EUROPEAN UNION

 

    The European Union is an international organization established after World War II to maintain peace in Europe, increase economic cooperation, and rebuild the continent. Initially, the organization was not founded under the name European Union. In 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed merging the coal and steel production of France and Germany. This step is known as the Schuman Declaration. Subsequently, in 1951, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris by France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was established. Following this, the founding countries of the ECSC established the European Economic Community (EEC) through the Treaty of Rome in 1957, with the aim of abolishing customs duties among themselves, increasing free trade, and creating a common market in Europe. The community completed its transition to becoming a full-fledged political and economic union with the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, adopting its current name. Citizens of the member states of this international organization can travel between countries without passports (Schengen Area). Their common currency is the Euro. They have their own commissions, parliaments, councils, and courts of justice. With Croatia's accession in 2013, the organization had 28 members, but after the United Kingdom officially withdrew on January 20, 2020, it was left with 27 members. Constructivism has been the most influential theory during the process of this European integration. This is because constructivism offers a perspective that goes beyond the simple economic and political explanations provided by traditional theories such as realism and liberalism.

Constructivism’s greatest contribution to European integration is the formation of identity. This approach emphasizes how a common European identity has been gradually built following the establishment of the European Union. The European Union is not just a functional organization for economic cooperation, but also an international organization where values like democracy, human rights, and the rule of law are shared. These promoted norms influence the identities of the member states. With the development of a common European identity, the willingness for cooperation and integration has increased. This identity was not formed solely by the national interests of states. The states' discourses, social interactions, technologies, political perspectives, and, of course, economic strategies have constructed a common European identity. The European Union has served as a mechanism for its member states to socialize a certain set of norms such as democracy, human rights, and market liberalization. Through this socialization process, states have aligned their policies and practices with European Union norms, promoting deeper integration. At its core, European integration is a social construct, shaped by how states, institutions, and citizens perceive it.

The European Union is a normative power in international relations. This is because the European Union does not rely solely on military and economic power; it seeks to influence international norms and values. The European Union’s promotion of human rights, environmental standards, and international law demonstrates its role as a normative power. Through its neighborhood policy or trade agreements, the European Union aims to spread its norms and values beyond its borders and to establish a more Europe-centered global order. In conclusion, constructivism helps explain European integration by clarifying how shared understandings and social interactions shape the preferences and actions of states. Constructivism helps to explain how the European Union has become a unique political entity.

SOURCES;

https://www.ab.gov.tr/avrupa-birliginin-tarihcesi_105.html#:~:text=Roma%20Antla%C5%9Fmas%C4%B1%20ve%20Avrupa%20Ekonomik%20Toplulu%C4%9Fu%20(AET)&text=B%C3%B6ylece%2C%20k%C3%B6m%C3%BCr%20ve%20%C3%A7eli%C4%9Fin%20yan%C4%B1,Ekonomik%20Toplulu%C4%9Fu%20(AET)%20kuruldu.

https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/442702

https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/3018028

https://ticaret.gov.tr/dis-iliskiler/avrupa-birligi/akct

https://ab.gov.tr/turkiye-avrupa-komur-ve-celik-toplulugu-serbest-ticaret-anlasmasi_118.html

KARDELEN PAŞALI

RAGIONAL ANALYSIS COMMUNITY

POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL REALTIONS

 

MUĞLA SITKI KOÇMAN UNIVERSITY