Supranationalism
vs.
Devolution
Supranationalism
• Cooperation among states for a common goal
(political, economic, military, environmental)
• Can be connected with globalizing forces
• States may give up some political power
(sovereignty) to join a supranational organization
• Examples: United Nations, European Union, African
Union, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, OPEC, OAS, CIS,
European Union
• Primarily for economic purposes, but also politically,
environmentally, and security oriented
• Economic changes: Border-free work, Euro currency
(in most members), Free trade in EU, Free flow of
currency across borders
• Has made EU a much more powerful player in global
economy
• Member states elect representatives to EU
Parliament
European Union
EU Members
• Primarily for economic purposes, but also politically,
environmentally, and security oriented
• Economic changes: Border-free work, Euro currency
(in most members), Free trade in EU, Free flow of
currency across borders
• Has made EU a much more powerful player in global
economy
• Member states elect representatives to EU
Parliament
African Union Goals
• To accelerate “the process of integration in the
continent to enable it play its rightful role in the global
economy while addressing multifaceted social, economic
and political problems compounded as they are by
certain negative aspects of globalisation.”
• “...to rid the continent of the remaining vestiges of
colonization and apartheid; to promote unity and
solidarity among African States; to coordinate and
intensify cooperation for development; to safeguard
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member
States and to promote international cooperation within
the framework of the United Nations.”
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
• Main aims:
• “To accelerate the economic growth, social progress
and cultural development in the region...”
• “To promote regional peace and stability through
abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the
relationship among countries of the region and
adherence to the principles of the United Nations
Charter.”
• “To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance
on matters of common interest in the economic, social,
cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields”
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
• Main aims:
• “To accelerate the economic growth, social progress
and cultural development in the region...”
• “To promote regional peace and stability through
abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the
relationship among countries of the region and
adherence to the principles of the United Nations
Charter.”
• “To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance
on matters of common interest in the economic, social,
cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields”
Devolution
• The breakdown of a state into smaller political units
• Local ethno-nationalism brings changes: political
instability, regional separatism, creates new states/
borders, localizes power in smaller regions, economic
instability, and mass migration (refugees/ethnic
cleansing)
• Examples: Sudan,Yugoslavia, Soviet Union, Indonesia
• Examples of separatists movements: Kurds, Basques,
Chechnya, Dagestan, Aceh, Tibet, East Turkestan, Punjab
(India), Balochistan,
Basque Separatists
• The Basque country straddles the Pyrenees Mountains
in France ad Spain
• Basques are linguistically/ethnically different from
Spanish and French, and have advocated independence
since the 1950s
• ETA, the Basque separatist group has used terrorist
tactics
Basque Separatists
• The Basque country straddles the Pyrenees Mountains
in France ad Spain
• Basques are linguistically/ethnically different from
Spanish and French, and have advocated independence
since the 1950s
• ETA, the Basque separatist group has used terrorist
tactics
Former Yugoslavia
• Yugoslavia was created as a multi-ethnic state at end of
WWI to unite all South Slavic speakers
• Relative peace under Josep Tito 1953-1980
• “Yugoslavia has seven neighbors, six republics, five
nationalities, four languages, three religions, two
alphabets, and one dinar.”
• Balkanization in 1990s: wars and ethnic cleansing broke
country into Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro,
Macedonia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina - border disputes
• Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008
Former Yugoslavia
• Yugoslavia was created as a multi-ethnic state at end of
WWI to unite all South Slavic speakers
• Relative peace under Josep Tito 1953-1980
• “Yugoslavia has seven neighbors, six republics, five
nationalities, four languages, three religions, two
alphabets, and one dinar.”
• Balkanization in 1990s: wars and ethnic cleansing broke
country into Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro,
Macedonia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina - border disputes
• Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008
Kurds
• Kurds are a state-less nation spread between Turkey,
Syria, Iran, and Iraq
• Have advocated for independence since end of WWI
• PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) has fought armed
conflict/used terrorism against governments to gain
autonomy/independence for Kurdistan
• Kurds have been discriminated against and oppressed in
several of the countries in which they live
Kurds
• Kurds are a state-less nation spread between Turkey,
Syria, Iran, and Iraq
• Have advocated for independence since end of WWI
• PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) has fought armed
conflict/used terrorism against governments to gain
autonomy/independence for Kurdistan
• Kurds have been discriminated against and oppressed in
several of the countries in which they live