European Superstate? [Archive]

BreadBros

2nd November 2006, 01:34

Will it happen?

Maybe. On the one hand, the history of Europe for the past 60 years seems to be the tendency towards union. However, such a state might be needless to the elite at this point. Economic integration and expansion is whats really important. A super-state was traditionally seen as the means to that end, however today that may not be true as minimizing the state and making the market "freer" seems to be on the elite's agenda.

What will the issues be?

Economic integration is the main and biggest one. Of course cultural integration will be a big deal to the average person, not so much to the elite though.

What will people think about their country being absorbed?

It depends. Overall I think the vast majority wont care. For the most part most of the European states already has been absorbed economically, culturally and to a great deal politically into greater Europe. This is just strengthening that. Of course there will always be people who see it against their interest, the "Euro-sceptics" and what not. I see the issue as having a lot of comparison to the "illegal immigrant" issue in the United States. In both cases the bourgeoisie is interested in expanding labor and consumer markets, and minimizing government regulation/obstacles because it means more $$$. The petty-bourgeoisie (who form the bulk of the anti-immigrant groups in the US, and I suspect, the bulk of the Eurosceptics as well) is freaking out though, because it means their class is getting hurt by these economic policies. The proletariat for the most part, realizes that very little is changing in actuality.

The general concensus over here is that france and germany want to manipulate the EU to their own ends.

Of course, every country will vote on the EU matter depending on whether its in their benefit or not. Of course the problem arises that sometimes the bourgeoisie may be in favor of a reform, but they leave it up to a vote where certain outsider politicians and demogogues may be able to convince the population to vote against it. I dont think that will stop them in the long run.

I think that in the long run the EU will be part of a three-way world power balancing act with the USA and PRC.

Interesting view, that is the way things seem to be going now, right? I only have one objection. The PRC is still an "ascendent" modern capitalist state. For that matter, most of East Asia is "nascent" when it comes to capitalism. The established capitalist states like China, Korea, Japan have only been modernized in the past 50 years, also some states such as Vietnam are barely making their debut into world markets right now. China has a lot of room to expand. A lot of sphere to influence. A lot of cheap labor to use. They've got nowhere to go but up right now.

The USA on the other hand seems to be descendent. China is so economically strong it can imperialistically influence other countries with no military force necessary. The USA not only needs to use force, but its imperialistic ventures haven't been going very well. It can't even fully conquer and exploit a small country like Iraq employing Cold War technology. I have trouble seeing what the USA will be able to accomplish in the next 50 years. Its former easy colonial pickings in Latin America are in revolt right now. Europe is a rival. East Asia is China's turf now. Africa and the Middle East are very costly to exploit because they necessitate war. Is the American Empire over? Probably not, but I do think its over the hill.

As for the EU, too difficult to say, I dont know enough. For one thing, they havent used military means to exploit other countries as much as the US. Its possible that they could make some kind of mutually beneficial business deals with the nascent capitalist states by showing themselves as being "nicer" than the US and not using force.

I think the future will see the continuing decline of capitalism as an efficient economic organizational system in the EU and US, which will be the first sites of proletarian uprisings. China, Latin America, South Asia and other regions will continue their rise into modern capitalism. Meanwhile, the sphere of anti-imperialist conflict will probably switch to places such as Central Asia, Africa and parts of Latin America.

piet11111

2nd November 2006, 13:33

Will it happen?

yeah i think it will happen eventually.
the european union is already pretty much economically and socially integrated only the constand expansion of the EU with other country's slows the forming of the dreaded super state.

What will the issues be?

economic growth and the deregulation of restrictions on the free market.
OUR issues are ofcourse irrellevant

What will people think about their country being absorbed?
many will be opposed as it means our job-security will be even less.
ofcourse a "mobile" working class is exactly the capitalists want.

The general concensus over here is that france and germany want to manipulate the EU to their own ends.
same in the netherlands but ofcourse the capitalists are only loyal to capital not to nations.

I think that in the long run the EU will be part of a three-way world power balancing act with the USA and PRC.

i agree the fractured nations of europe will be easier to exploit if they become 1 super state.
fortunatly it also becomes easier for us communists to unite with foreign komrades and pursue our shared class interests.
so i think 1 european super state is beneficial to our cause.