How unique is the EU? Annmarie Elijah ANU Centre for European Studies Europe in 2014 Summer School January 21-23

What is the European Union? An international organisation? A fledgling state? Something new and unique?

What is the European Union? Five decades of integration Incremental change by Treaty process Prevention of conflict in Europe Single Market and ‘four freedoms’

What is the European Union? How does the EU behave internationally?

The n=1 puzzle How can we begin to explain the European Union? Complex theories developed to explain the process  federalism, functionalism, neo-functionalism, intergovernmentalism… Explanations do not readily ‘fit’ other regions  Other regions did not evolve as expected Does n=1? Study of the EU turns ‘inwards’  Attention to internal politics instead of comparison

Meanwhile, in the rest of the world… Other regions  All shapes and sizes, ‘acronym soup’ Ideas about integration have diffused  Policy makers both copy and reject the European model

The trans-Tasman case Closer to home… Australian states have been ‘integrating’ since federation Since ANZCERTA (1983) Australia and New Zealand have been working on a single market

The trans-Tasman case

Conclusions The European Union is unique  The most developed, most visible case of integration  Institutional structure distinguishes it from states and international organisations  Achievements are remarkable But not the ONLY case of integration  Regions elsewhere are developing on their own terms  Economic integration can happen differently