Why do some people argue that Britain is in decline?

Some people argue that Britain’s economy will drastically decline. The argument is that Britain’s economy will not continue to flourish indefinitely if the government continues to spend well above the rate of economic growth.  The country’s revenues are repeatedly falling short of its forecasts. Although once a model economy, they have experienced a rise in unemployment and decreased unemployment benefits. There is also a rise in budget cuts across the government and reduced spending on education. It appears that education and skills are a weak spot for Britain’s workforce and economy. There are also concerns that the continuing appreciation of sterling will diminish the value of British assets abroad and increase that of its liabilities. They are also facing challenges integrating their increasing immigrant populations. This can be seen as a national decline and has created a huge debate over race, religion and identity in Britain. Specifically, Britain is having problems integrating its Muslim immigrant population and the presence of mosques and combatting terrorism is a huge concern.

What has been Britain’s approach to the EU?

Britain is often regarded as the awkward or reluctant partner of the EU. The British government believes in the mission of the EU, but at the same time it is accountable to the British people. The government will be firm in their defense of British interest when it comes to the EU. In terms of entering the Eurozone, the majority of Britain’s population wants to remain on the pound. The people feel a sense of security and want to retain some of their uniqueness. Although they believe in the EU, they are still nationalistic in a sense. Britain’s relationship towards European integration has generally been one of a reluctant union.

There are some examples where multiculturalism has failed: repeated outbreaks of violence between blacks and whites, then Asian Muslims and whites, and then between blacks and Asian Muslims. There have been times when jobs for both immigrant and indigenous workers were scarce. Immigrants have kept down wages, particularly for the low-skilled, and they are taking jobs from them too.  Immigrants are also pushing up house prices and piling into schools that had no chance to prepare for their arrival. The allocation of social housing to newcomers contributed to the uprooting of working-class communities and to the sense that immigrants' needs were being given priority. Most of the 200,000 or so who voted for the anti-immigrant British National Party in the local elections in May 2006 were members of the white working class who felt dispossessed. However, some say the issue is not multiculturalism but Radical Islam and terrorism.

After success in Britain, James Dyson moved his factory to Malaysia. Production was shifted because there were no longer any suppliers near the original factory and the wage bill per person had doubled. Three factories in Malaysia now make 4m vacuum cleaners a year, with all the suppliers within a ten-mile radius, at one-third of the cost in Britain. Innovative firms like Dyson can grow from small beginnings to world-beaters. Global competition is turning many products into commodities, so innovation is essential if companies--and countries--want to stay in business. Britain has plenty of people with good ideas and entrepreneurial ambitions: a poll by YouGov last year found that one person in three wanted to run his own business. But in 2005 only just over 6% of British workers started a business or had done so in the previous three and a half years. In America the rate is double that. The reasons often cited for entrepreneurial reluctance in Britain include fear of failure, lack of finance and a shortage of suitable projects. Poor marketing and management skills and poor infrastructure are also blamed. Yet the problems are clearly not insuperable: witness the blaze of creativity in Britain's financial services.

Why has “Britishness” become an issue in Britain?

Most countries that try to assimilate immigrants, such as France and America, can point to a defining event when their national identity “began”; Britain did not have the same kind of revolution. But it has much else to inspire newcomers: a sweeping history that is also broadly progressive, a language everyone wants to speak, longer experience of racial diversity than most European nations. And “Britain” itself is a civic invention rather than an ethnic community, created in 1707 to supersede more blood-based notions of Englishness and Scottishness. However, with devolution, the Scots and Welsh are becoming keener on their more local identities and less interested in being British. Also, as a group, Britain's Muslims come across as more disaffected than their co-religionists elsewhere. In polls an unusually high proportion identify themselves as Muslim first and British second, and younger folk are more likely to do so than their parents. Many are now wondering whether Britain has struck the right balance between encouraging cultural diversity and insisting on a shared national identity. Yet in order for minorities and majority to accept a common identity, there must be a clear idea of what it means to be British, and that is lacking.

What are some of the components of “civic integration”?

●      The British adoption of civic integration is different to other European countries because instead of requiring a citizenship test from the very beginning the UK policy only requires it if one is seeking permanent residency. Secondly, unlike the continental European approach which has become increasingly coercive, the British approach has remained for the most part rather gentle and service-oriented. The immigration and foreign labor is so closely tied to the labor force that the market is very reluctant to make drastic changes to the current policy. The post immigration requirements are the same as the Naturalisation ones that require a “Life in UK” citizenship test; sufficient knowledge of the English language and the English culture. That said they still look to ensure only economic migrants who will only “bring the most value to the economy” are admitted. Due to various issues over human rights, the Tories have also scraped the current ID card system that allowed the government excess information about the individuals past and identity. 

●      Gordon Brown’s numerous public relations catastrophes (left his microphone on after an interview - Story)

●      Losing the debates to David Cameron

●      Negativity towards the Iraq war from Gordon Brown

●      Time for a change of power after ten years of Labour rule

●      The 2010 United Kingdom parliamentary election was one of the closest run elections in a generation. Although neither of the parties won the necessary 326 seats needed for an overall majority, the Conservative, “Tory”, party did win the overall election with 307 seats in the House of Commons. Since no party was able to win an overall majority, a hung parliament resulted for only the second time since World War II. This in turn led to the Conservative and Liberal Democrat party, headed by David Cameron and Nick Clegg, respectively, to form the first coalition government in Britain’s history to form directly from an election outcome. 

Describe some of the important aspects of French political culture.

●      Paris leads the country in all aspects and has a large political and financial impact.  Small farmers tend to have strong political power and large industrial farms are beginning to play more of a role.  There are strong divisions between the left and the right political parties.  Secularism plays a large role in political culture – the Catholic Church can’t have any role in politics.  The elites largely influence political culture, especially via debates.

●      France is inherently conservative and resistant to change.  France has been described as a “blocked society”: too many top-down bureaucratic rules breed distrust among the people and create a system that can evolve only through crisis.  Others suggest that the problem lies with the French themselves.  It is argued that France needed a “mental revolution” to alter its mindset in favor of risk-taking and innovation.  A poll suggested the “state of mind of the French” was the biggest single reason it is difficult to make reforms.  French hostility to the market also makes reform especially hard.

How does one become part of the French elite?

To become part of the French elite one must attend one of the ENA schools that are highly competitive; it is almost essential that one have a political connection or friend in order to succeed in these schools; then one must use his connections to gain positions in a minister’s service and work his/her way up from there.

There is resistance to religious symbols.  The assembly passed law that girls could not wear veils to schools.  This proves that there is secularism and strict ideas (laicism) about what secularism means in France.

Why is attracting high-skilled immigrants important for Germany’s future?

The german education system is a dual system. If students do not pass the required exams to get into university they take the apprenticeship route which trains students in a trade such as mechanics, hairdressers, bakers, etc.

                  The type of secondary school a German attends, the degree he obtains and the exams he passes classify him for life. The distinctions are made earlier and more rigidly than in other countries. "Nowhere are credentials as important as in Germany," says Stefan Hradil, a sociologist at the University of Mainz.

Many children are typecast at age ten, which is when most German states decide which of three kinds of secondary school he or she will attend. Traditionally the Hauptschulen, the lowest tier, were the main suppliers of recruits to the dual training system, but they gradually became dumping grounds for children who could not keep up. Upon leaving (sometimes without passing the final exam), nearly 40% of these students find themselves in the precarious transitional system. The dual system now draws its intake mainly from the middle-grade Realschulen, the traditional training ground for white-collar workers, and even Gymnasien (grammar schools), the main route to university.

The state bureaucracy acknowledges four career paths: the simple, middle, elevated and higher services. Bureaucrats in one category can rarely aspire to careers in a higher one. Teachers in Gymnasien enjoy a higher status than those at other schools, and have their own trade union, the grandly named Philologenverband. A Meisterbrief, the highest vocational credential, is not just a badge of competence but in some trades a keep-off sign to competitors.

Germans are now asking themselves whether this way of doing things is fair, and whether it is working. The system is very rigid and allows for very little flexibility.

Lots of immigrants work as unskilled laborers, as Germany recruited workers in particular for simple activities. Studies have revealed that immigrant families in Germany have difficulty climbing the social ladder or improving their economic situation. Nonetheless, over the past two decades progress has been made with regard to integration: Acquiring German citizenship was facilitated by law, contacts between immigrants and Germans are closer, and there is more widespread acceptance of ethnic cultural variety. And the immigration law that came into power in 2005 provides for the first time an all-embracing legal framework that considers all aspects of immigration policy.

The Federal Government considers the subsequent integration of people with an immigration background to be a focus of its work. It is foregrounding their incorporation in the labor market and regards education and improving language skills as keys to integration. Since 2006, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel has held an Integration Summit, attended by representatives of all social groups impacting on integration, including immigrant organizations. Regular checks are made to ensure that the most important result of the first Integration Summit, the “National Integration Plan”, is being implemented. It contains concrete goals as well as over 400 measures for government, business, and social players. This way a network of “education patrons” is being built up; so far more than 5,000 have become involved, supporting children and young people from immigrant families in their education and vocational training. More than 500 companies and public institutions with over four million employees have joined the “Charter of Diversity”. They see diversity as an opportunity and, among other things, have committed themselves to granting improved training opportunities to young people with an immigration background.

Germany had long ignored immigration or had treated it primarily as a burden and a problem. For half a century, German policy on migration claimed that Germany was not a country of immigration, which clearly contradicted the reality.

After World War II, the German economic miracle demanded labor. By 1964, a million foreign workers were living in Germany. These immigrants were known then as gastarbeiter, guest workers, which indicated what policymakers expected of them; they were supposed to work in Germany and then return to their home countries.

But the policymakers were wrong. They wanted workers, but what they got were human beings who came with their families, their customs, and their culture. The longer they stayed in Germany, the looser their ties to their home countries became. But for the Germans these immigrants were still only guests, and were treated as such.

Germany has not been able to attract very many skilled workers b/c Green card program launched in 2002 when there was not enough German student’s filling IT jobs so German IT Industry persuaded the SPD-Green coalition govt to allow the entry of foreign computer specialists. SPD-Green govt had a failed effort to change Germany’s naturalization policy from restrictive to liberal. CDU-CSU won elections and opposed routine dual nationality. As of Jan 2000, children born legal foreign residents of Germany are considered dual nationals until age 23, when they normally lose German citizenship unless they give up their old citizenship. 

Germany is not a land of immigration, but is a country of German settlement at first. This is reflected in polices toward immigrants from former German territories (Aussiedler).  Aussiedler, people who left Germany and had to come back, were given priority for immigration b/c many Germans living in what was Germany when WWII ended, such as western provinces of Poland. Article 116 of Germany’s Basic Law gives those born of German parents, the right to German citizenship if they suffered persecution after WWII b/c of their German heritage. Germany created a lot of German settlement outside of Germany, such as Czech Republic, and had to work w/ other countries to arrange for people to come back to Germany. Skilled immigration was hard to get b/c of immigration law and Germany later shifted we’re not a country of immigration stance.

●      It was a government proposal on May 9, 1950 by the then French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman to create a form of organization of states within Europe.

●      It first led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and then into the European Union.

●      The Schuman Declaration became a symbol for the end of the war and for the birth of a more unified union in Europe.

●      Major step toward European integration.

●      It also led to the peaceful re-organization of post-World War Europe.

●      The 1951 European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)- reconstructing the communities of Europe after the war was a top priority.  First step towards a European Union. Created a common coal and steel market across Europe.

●      The 1957 European Economic Community (EEC)- a treaty of Rome; it established the European community to improve the conditions for trade, but also to move towards the integration and unification of Europe.

●      The Euratom Treaty- Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.  This is another treaty of Rome. To create a central market for selling nuclear energy.

●      The 1992 Maastricht Treaty- After the collapse of Communism, it was time for the European community to position itself as a superpower rather than as simply an economic area. Pillar system that extended the EU to deal with things like foreign policy. 

One of the great achievements of the EU has been to create a frontier-free area within which 1) people,  2) goods,  3)services, and  4)money can all move around freely.  These are important because they are intended to be conducive to increased competition, increased specialization, larger economies, and it allows goods and services to be moved to the area where they are most valued, thus improving the efficiency of the allocation of resources.  It’s also meant to drive economic integration within the EU whereby the once separate economies of the European member states become integrated into a single EU economy.

The fall of the berlin wall led to an end of communism in Eastern Europe and helped unite and integrate all of Europe under the principles of freedom, democracy, and a market economy, With similar governments and economic systems it made steps toward integrating into the European Union much easier. The previously communist countries have now helped with the enlargement of the European Union by joining and helping to create a greater power. 

Why was the Maastricht treaty so important to the creation of the European Union?

The Maastricht treaty first and foremost led to the creation of the European Union,  and implementation of a single currency, the Euro.

The Treaty created the pillar structure of the EU which included:

1.the European Community pillar

2. Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar

3. the Justice and Home Affairs pillar

It created the institutions of the European governmental systems such as the commission, the European Parliament, and the European Court of Justice. The pillar system was a result of the members states wanting to increase the power of include different areas such as, economy, military, foreign affairs, and other political topics. The Treaty also developed criteria that a nation must posses in order to adopt the euro as their currency including:

1. Inflation rates:

2. government finance

3. exchange rates

4. long-term interest rates

The criteria helped to maintain stability amongst countries using the eruo even when new countries were added.

Central and Eastern European countries that applied for admittance into the EU entered into Accession partnerships which:

1. provide areas in which candidate countries must improve before they can be admitted

2. transfer of financial support

These partnerships made sure that countries were ready for accession and would be of benefit to the European Union once they joined. 

The whole process started off controversial.  When the change to the Euro was established, 11 out of the 15 did not make the change to The Euro (though Greece later joined).  Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom took political decision not to enter the single currency.

            The Currency was established under the term of a “stability and growth pact”.  This stated that each member state are obliged to keep their budget deficits within certain limits.  This can only work if the governments of the partaking governments are willing to impose disciplinary actions against offending governments.  A good example of this occurred in 2003 when the meeting of the EU finance ministers refrained against acting against France and Germany, both of whom had budget deficits in excess of the permitted level.

The European Council, created in 1974, consists of heads of government from 25 member states.  It meets 2X every year.  Often helps to initiate major steps taken by the EU (commission helps as well).  The Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and Amsterdam Treaty helps define its role and strengthens its position.  Its authority is political rather than legal, lacks constraints.  “provides union with necessary impetus for its development & shall define general political guidelines thereof”… relationship with the rest of Union’s decision making however is as a free-floating agent able to intervene at any area/any time.

            -advocates of a closer European integration regret rise of European Council b/c seems to confirm positions of member states/governments rather than collective institutions as central actors in EU

            -However, it could be argued that EU would be far less relevant to member states if they had no direct interest/involvement of heads of government shaping its affairs

            -questions of democratic accountability, question of who do they answer to?

            -Voice of member states

Has four main roles:

–          to propose legislation to Parliament and the Council; proposals/recommendations sent to EU’s policy making process

–          to manage and implement EU policies and the budget;

–          to enforce European law (jointly with the Court of Justice);

–          to represent the European Union on the international stage, for example by negotiating agreements between the EU and other countries.

(Accountable to Parliament, promotes the common interest, headed by president, 25 members

from each country)

Book notes:

-initiating legislation: spends time consulting/canvassing 25 governments, known to act as mediator/broker between various interests than as a real independent initiator

-ensures that others in union are behaving as they should, when EU legislation is passed it checks to ensure obligations are fulfilled & policies are implemented

-also plays vital role in providing overall union viewpoints on important matters, negotiating, mediating

-represents Union externally in important ways—negotiates trade issues w/ international actors 

On 23 April 2010, the Greek government requested that the EU/IMF bailout package be activated.  This package was made of high-interest loans and was initially the size of 45billion Euros.  The first installment covered nearly 8.5 Billion Euros of Greek bonds had been due April 27th.  The Greek debt rating decreased to BB+ which was the “junk” status declared by Standard & Poor.  Standard & poor estimated that investors would lose 30-50% of their money, which led the worldwide markets and Euro to decline.  On May 1, a series of measures were proposed.  Germany, signed on to a larger, 110 billion euro EU/IMF loan package over 3 years for Greece (high interest of 5%).  On May 5, a national strike was held in opposition to the planned spending cuts and tax increases.

Greece and Portugal have a higher percent of their debt in the hands of foreign creditors, which is seen as being more difficult to sustain. Greece, Portugal and also Spain have a 'credibility problem', because they lack the ability to adequately repay due to their low growth rate, high deficit, less FDI, etc.

One reason that countries won’t leave the Eurozone is because cost would be heavy. Changing all contracts in euros to new currency for ex. bonds, mortgages, bank deposits, wage deals would be a logistical nightmare. Whereas the changeover to the Euro was carefully planned in cooperation w/ other countries. The change to a different currency would make people assume the new currency is devalued causing a bank run to deposit their euros in foreign banks for safe-keeping. If businesses converted their debts to a different currency, could result in legal battles because of the exchange rate. A country that forced bondholders to take a loss b/c of change in convergence would be punished later. They would most likely be charged high premiums  and high borrowing cost. In accordance with the problems of reconverting to sovereign monetary systems, it would extend the duration of the economic crisis in the Euro zone because it would make it even more difficult to implement a uniform economic policy that would be feasible for a majority of the countries involved. 

The Lisbon treaty was a single text made to replace existing Treaties and to primarily deal with enlargement. The treaty amends the earlier treaties (Treaty of EU, and Treating Establishing the European Community).  It was an attempt to streamline EU institutions to make the enlarged bloc of 27 states function better. The constitution attempted to replace all earlier EU treaties and start afresh, whereas the new treaty amends the Treaty on the European Union and the Treaty Establishing the European Community. It also drops all reference to the symbols of the EU - the flag, the anthem and the motto - though these will continue to exist. The goal was to make the EU more democratic, transparent, and efficient. The treaty also came as a result of criticisms by member states and their citizens, mostly states wanted equal representation in council decisions. Under the Lisbon Treaty, some countries felt they weren’t represented equally. Side-Note, (Opponents of the treaty feel it threatens national sovereignty). An example of a making it a more democratic union would be 1.) The decision making of the council now made open to the public 2) The orange card, it gives national parliament the right to raise objections to drafts of EU legislation. 

Why is Portugal’s crisis different than Greece or Ireland?

Portugal's challenges are different than Greece and Ireland because it entered the financial crisis at a different stage. Portugal’s public debt levels are significantly lower than Greece, and its banking industry is comparatively more stable than that of Ireland. Portugal's problem is due to the loss of competitiveness as a result of high costs and low productivity. One key difference for Portugal is that it has seen the failure of the aid programs to really address the crisis and bring down interest rates, or even stabilize them. Portugal will wait to the very last minute for a bail out.

How did the Lisbon Treaty create “A More Democratic and Transparent Europe”?

The Lisbon Treaty aimed to make the EU more democratic by "rejuvenating the decision making apparatus of the EU institutions." The treaty revised some of the EU's basic rules in response to some of the criticisms of its member states and their citizens. Some of the most prominent changes that made the EU more democratic included a strengthened role for the European Parliament and greater involvement by national parliaments. EU citizens are also guaranteed freedoms through the Charter of Fundamental Rights. To combat the idea that the EU is elitist, transparency issues were addressed by making the decision-making of the European Council open to the public. 

The Lisbon Treaty worked to bring the member states together as a more unified force as it created features such as the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the role of High Representative for the Union in Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who represents the collective foreign policy platforms of the EU. The Lisbon Treaty also gave the EU a single legal personality, which would strengthen the EU's negotiating power and make it a stronger figure in the global community. The EU also asserted itself as a global leader by undertaking several joint projects with the US and developing international standards in regards to issues such as terrorism and intellectual property rights.

Turkey's accession process has taken quite a while due to some resistance on the part of EU member states and Turkey's own inability to meet the Copenhagen criteria. One major issue is the question of whether or not Turkey qualifies as "European," as only a small percentage of the nation falls within "European" territory. The Copenhagen criteria that stipulates political requirements - specifically a good human rights record - may be Turkey's largest stumbling block, considering its unjust handling of its Kurd population, press censorship and the question of gender equality. Additionally, because the EU allows free movement of people within the Schengan area, some member states worry that this will create a huge influx of poor, Turkish (and Muslim) immigrants. Some prominent figures have tried to block Turkey's accession by stating that Europe was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and Turkey's values would not be compatible. As an unanimous agreement is required for Turkey to complete the accession process and Islamaphobia seems to be on the rise across Europe, it appears that such an agreement could take some time.

1. Economy – economic crisis has largely affected the different economies of the Western Balkans; the region has a limited scope of strong domestic macroeconomic policy; unemployment is high, less foreign direct investment; due to previous pro-cyclical fiscal stances, foreign currency denominated credits and mortgages and large external imbalances; while some were less affected than others, such as Slovenia and Turkey, recovery will still take time

2. Rule of Law – corruption and organized crime are still very prevalent in the areas, causing major problems in law enforcement; rule of law is also key for a functioning democracy and economy; while the Commission may lend help, the individual countries bear the responsibility of strengthening the rule of law

3. Freedom of expression – while freedom of expression is protected in many countries, there is a severe problem with it due to legal obstacles, as well as the threat of violence for journalists and political pressure that is placed on the media

4. Border issues – there is an understanding that before joining the EU, countries will deal with all border issues, however, there are still problems in areas such as Slovenia, Croatia, etc

5. Regional cooperation – problems concerning regional cooperation, such as the issue involving Kosovo, threaten to effect things such as public administration and trade, as regional trade is essential to the livelihood of the countries – it is imperative that regional cooperation takes place in order for countries to cooperate accordingly

1. Visa free travel – EU has implemented visa free travel agreements that have accelerated reforms in areas such as document security, border and migration management and the fight against corruption and crime; EU plans to draw out plans for the remainder of the countries to be implemented

2. Participation of civil society – Commission has implemented civil society measures in order to strengthen the quality of democracy, while it also helps reconciliation; EU has funded technical support offices and participation of about 800 people in workshops in Balkans and Turkey designed to bring institutions and citizens closer to the EU, with priority in areas such as culture, minorities and business associations; Commission plans to continue to finance and support building necessary capacities and resources to ensure successful participation in programs and agencies

3. Governance issues – Commission will pay close attention to countries’ public administration; will encourage best practices and sharing of expertise between countries; will enhance accessibility to European training institutes for public administration

4. Emphasis on climate change and sustainability – EU will strengthen dialogue about climate change with enlargement countries; Commission has funded energy efficient programs, helping the Western Balkans and Turkey reduce greenhouse gas emissions; plan to continue supporting climate change initiatives in enlargement countries

5. Country progress - the Western Balkans have moved closer to EU membership over the past few years after making progress in reforms and by meeting criteria and conditions; also made progress towards visa liberalization; further progress in the countries would grant candidate status once they have demonstrated readiness, which means implementing more measures for trade-related provisions

6. Conclusions and recommendations – better communication with public; essential for countries/EU to listen to citizens concerns and questions; promotion of an informed public; ensuring public support; political and economic reform, reinforce peace and stability; EU will continue helping alleviate impact of recession and economic crisis; rule of law remains a major issue; problems concerning freedom of expression need to be handled as a matter of urgency; bilateral issues should not hold up process, as they need to be resolved by the parties concerned to find solutions towards good neighborliness; regional cooperation in South-East Asia has improved but efficiency of regional structures and initiatives need to be improved; need for establishing of visa free regime for former Yugoslov Republic of Macedonia; need to meet necessary conditions to help Kosovo build viable economic structures

The Republican model of citizenship, as seen in France, says that you are a citizen if you are physically born in the country. This makes it very easy to be French and to gain citizenship into the country and belong if you were born in the country. If not, you need to apply for citizenship much like in the US that made it harder, but essentially anyone who wanted to become French could be French. It is idealistic because anyone who wants to be French essentially can be and their background is not important. A second model of citizenship is the Ethnic model, such as is in Germany. In Germany, you either have German blood or you do not. If you do have German blood, you could become a citizen. However, if you were just born in Germany, you did not automatically gain citizenship and it was necessary to apply, which was a long and difficult process. This impacted immigrants because you had to jump through so many more hoops to gain citizenship that it deterred immigrants from applying.

1.       Temporary labor migrations of young workers

2.       Development of social networks

3.       Family reunion and emergence of ethnic communities

4.       Permanent settlement

       The four stage process of immigration is a process a country goes through when they import labor. The first step is the temporary labor migration of young workers. The second step is the development of social networks that occurs between the young workers. They also encourage their families and friends to come which results in most people from a certain town or city going to one location to work. The third step is family reunion and emergence of ethnic communities that leads to the final step of permanent settlement.

An example of this can be the Turkish migrants coming into Germany. They came in as workers and eventually through the 4 step process they became permanent residents. From lecture: “We (the Germans) asked for workers and got people”.

The Schengen agreement is an agreement in the EU that says that there are no border stations in agreeing countries and thus no real border control. Certain countries can opt out, and Denmark and Britain have done so, so there are border checks there. It is also incorporated into the Maastricht treaty which means that every other country who joins the EU had to agree with the Schengn agreement unless they want to opt out. Generally, the importance of the Schengen agreement is that it not only facilitates the free movement of people, but also the free movement of trade because people who bring trade items are not checked.

Generally, there is the feeling that bringing policy to the EU level and harmonizing it will not work because each country has different needs. Countries within the EU want their own rules and regulations for their immigration policies and other major issues because each country’s situation is different. While each country would have a say in the harmonization of EU policy, there is a widespread belief that the policy will not work for everyone. Other issues are the ride of Radical Right parties which are anti EU, terrorism, and a rise in extremist groups and anti-Islam rhetoric.

Each country has it’s own immigration laws. However there is freedom of movement within the EU so people will want to enter places with more lenient immigration policies. Additionally, there are national level issues as well. For this reason several nations don’t want immigration issues to be governed by the EU since their situations differ from the other member nations. It is also hard to know what the EU can do. Immigration is a nationalistic issue, and rise of radical right.

Third country nationals refer to immigrants from non EU member states. Third country national workers may only enter the member states with a valid work visa and prior authorization for a specified job. The workers are limited to working and residing only in their country of employment and have minimal rights (for ex. they can’t vote or work in the public sector.) They also have limitations on length of stay in the member states from 6 months up to a year, depending on job type. Currently, the EU lacks harmonization in immigration policies and as such “is hesitant to create policy initiatives for labor recruitment.” Policies that are passed are done so with major restrictions, especially for example, in countries with harsh opt out policies like in Denmark, Britain and Ireland.

The RED requires EU member states to implement anti-discrimination laws to protect EU minority, non third country national immigrants from discrimination in the work force and in private industries. It also aims to protect third party nationals from ethnic discrimination in the work force and “to provide judicial remedies for ethnic minority immigrants.” The RED “can thus be seen as a policy building instrument.” Britain and the Netherlands served as models for the initiative.

What are some of the reasons behind the surge in far right party support in the last few years?

Major scandals and unresolved issues such as the financial crisis, rising unemployment and illegal immigration in some member states, and taxes are large reasons behind a surge to the far right party support. Many feel that these parties are “the only real opposition [to the current government,]” and joining and voting for them represents “a message to the governing coalition.” Thus, a major reason for the surge is as a reaction to the current European governments. 

Why was the 2002 presidential election in France so controversial?

 + First presidential election for a 5 instead of 7 year term.

+ (Front National) FN leader Le Pen is known for his radical views on immigration, his anti-semitic leanings and tendency toward aggression (he physically assaulted a political opponent from the Socialist party in the 1997 general election). As a result, he is a rather polarizing figure.

+ In 1999, Bruno Megret - a politician once considered to be Le Pen’s heir apparent - began to push for more power. Le Pen retaliated by not putting him in a prominent position before the 1999 election. In response, Megret broke away to form his own party but failed to get enough votes to get a place in the European Parliament. The FN got 5.7 of the vote and stayed in by the skin of it’s teeth.

 + After this, many assumed Le Pen was on his last legs. He stunned the world by taking second place in the first round of the presidential election, qualifying for a run-off with incumbent Jacques Chirac. This was the first time in history that someone with such radical views had qualified for a run-off in a presidential election.

 + Despite his success, his win was more of a fluke than a national mandate. The Socialist Party had a poor showing and the liberal votes were votes scattered between the incumbent prime minister Lionel Lispin and 15 other candidates, allowing Le Pen to beat Lispin with a measly .68%

+ The people revolted and held protests in the streets against Le Pen, refusing to show support for the radical candidate. After the protests, Chirac pummeled Le Pen with an 82% majority.

What are some of the key electoral issues for radical right parties?

+ Strong nationalism - “foreign” presence a threat to the nation as defined by a nationalist, so they want to exclude foreigners and preserve a national identity. Often proud of nation’s heritage, including negative aspects.

+ Immigration - radical right parties in Germany and Austria declared their homelands are “not countries of immigration.” Le Pen has argued for the mass deportation of foreigners who threaten to overwhelm the “French” population. Against multicultural society. Cite immigrants as reasons for unemployment and law and order. Immigrants are a threat to national identity and homogeneity of the country.

+ Economic policy - often contradictory combination of neo-liberalism and economic protection (particularly of agricultural sector). For example, the Republikaner party has a positive attitude toward capitalism but appeals to middle, working and agricultural classes by calling for protective measures. The FPO has a similar policy, recognizing the need for private property but calling for agricultural protections. Often called “economic nationalism” and includes a rejection of the Maastricht treaty and the common European currency.

+ Attitude toward mainstream parties - lack of responsiveness of mainstream parties to electorate is a rallying point for the radical right. Strikes a chord with voters when they accuse government elites of not understanding the plight of the “common man.”

Response 1:

The EU subsidizes agriculture, steel, and aircraft industries heavily. As for steel the US has even brought punitive measures against the EU for keeping high tariffs on steel. Previously the US and the EU had made an agreement to reduce the tariffs and open up free trade in the industry, but the EU had stalled on following through on this agreement. Sometimes the WTO gets involved with these issues and sides with one side. In the steel case, the WTO sided with the US a sanctioned the punitive measures. In addition to the agriculture subsidies, policy on growth hormones and genetically modified food has also caused issues.

There have also been barriers to trade in building materials, telecommunications, grain, and bananas. The Banana Wars started because both the EU and the US wanted the tariffs to change on the bananas. The US gets their bananas from Latin America while the EU gets theirs primarily from Africa.

Response 2:

·         EU subsidizes the agriculture, steel, and aircraft industries (ex. Airbus).

·         Barriers to trade (tariffs) in building materials, telecommunications, grain, and bananas

·         The US has put tariffs on European steel because they feel access to EU steel is                             too protected. The WTO has sided with the US in this case.

·         US punitive measures and policy on steel

·         Growth hormones and genetically modified foods

What are some of the international developments that led the EU to develop a Common Foreign and Security Policy?

Response 1:

There were several important international developments that led to the creation of the CFSP. First, at the end of the Cold War, there were bases in Europe in accordance to the Warsaw Pact to keep the peace. When Germany reunified and the end of the Cold War was apparent, something had to be done with the bases. The outbreak of the Yugoslav crises within Europe made it obvious that the EU would need means of keeping peace and settling violence with a military force. The Gulf War, War on Terrorism, and the Iraq War have tested the CFSP. During the Iraq War in particular the CFSP was not unanimous.

Response 2:

All of the following created a need for Europe to develop a structure for unified & coordinated EU reaction to international crises:

·         End of the Cold War

·         Unification of Germany

·         Yugoslav crises

·         These were particularly influential because they highlighted the EU’s inability to act                           swiftly and in a unified manner (see below)

·         Persian Gulf War

·         War on Terror

·         Iraq War

Response 1:

The crisis in Bosnia highlighted Europe’s inability to respond to crisis. For one thing there were different reactions to the crisis. Some countries wanted to practice soft power tactics like diplomacy whereas others (like the US) thought the military response was necessary. Consequentially, the EU response was delayed and the final initiative was uncoordinated. In the meantime, thousand of people were being killed.

            Eventually NATO, under heavy influence of the US, intervened because the EU simply did not have the resources or organization to deal with the problem. The Dayton Agreement put a stop to the violence, but not until revealing the huge gaps in the EU’s ability to handle problems. Today there are still EU troops in Bosnia to keep the peace.

Response 2:

·         Differences in EU countries about how to respond (soft vs. hard power)

·         Uncoordinated initiatives – internal squabbling led to paralyzed EU response

·         NATO (mostly the US) had to take the initiative, intervene militarily, and force an                               agreement. Basically left out the EU, UN, and Russia

·         The Contact Group – established after the Bosnian crisis – group of countries (US, UK,                  Fra, Ger, Ita, Russia) that holds regular meetings to ensure peace in southeast Europe –                      broker agreements

.  Describe some of the ways that the U.S. maintains ongoing discussions with the EU

The two are supposed to have annual summits, though President Obama has said that annual meetings are unnecessary. The two entities participate in the Transatlantic Economic Council with the purpose of coordinating their economies. One of its main purposes is harmonizing regulations between the two. Areas of cooperation include: regulatory cooperations, intellectual property rights, secure trade, financial markets, innovation and technology, and investment. A European delegation to the United States also exists to facilitate relations between the two. In addition, the United States and the European Union cooperate on issues such as the current crisis in Northern Africa and Middle Eastern policy.

How have European publics responded to the events related to the nuclear plant disaster in Japan?

Protestors in France and Germany are calling for an end to nuclear power. They believe the plants are too dangerous to keep in existence. Support for nuclear power has dropped throughout the EU, though France and most Eastern European countries are still in favor of nuclear energy.

France produces 75% of its energy in nuclear power plants. Sarkozy supports nuclear power as a means to reduce carbon gas emissions. The Eastern European countries support nuclear energy as a way to reduce their energy dependence on other countries (such as Russia). 

European countries have made a strong commitment to reducing carbon emissions.  This has lead to an increased number of nuclear power plants.  If they shutdown these plants, they will be forced to rely more heavily on carbon-producing oil and diesel powered plants.  Also,  If the UK doesn’t build the 10 nuclear plants it is planning, it will face power shortages as early as 2015.

The Green party won a state election in Baden-Württemberg.   They were able to beat out the fairly conservative Christian-Democrat Party.  This a major step in becoming a legitimate political party. The Green party started out in the 1970s as a radical fringe party, focusing on anti nuclear power.  The cause of this win is largely due to the scare over nuclear energy caused by the earthquake in Japan.