EDITORIAL/2
From sovereign nation-states to EU member States
When reflecting on the “raison d’être” of the European Union two events of great historical significance, distinct and yet crucial, come to mind: the crisis, better known as the “globalization” of the modern state system in force, and the crisis of the nation state. The relationship between the two phenomena is evident, since globalization contributes with its determinateness to an internationalization of almost all the living, working, and economic conditions. In so doing the nation-states gradually lose their ability to independently solve their own problems. The crisis currently affecting the nation state forces to recognize and to rely on institutions and international regulations, supranational and transnational alike, which in turn consolidate and accelerate the phenomenon of globalization.But what does the crisis of the nation state consist in? And why have we come to realize that to overcome this crisis it is necessary to rely on an integration movement, involving step by step all European nation states? Originally the idea of the nation-state contained and promoted a process of ethnic and cultural homogenization within national borders, with the inevitable negligence, penalty, oppression and even elimination of those ethnic groups and those parts of the population, which did not belong or which, on ethnic or racist grounds, were denied membership to the nation state.The idea of a nationalist state favoured the “segregation” of states, nations, peoples… It fuelled the illusion of autarchy and led to interpret the natural and necessary competition of one “with” the other as a struggle of one “against” others, urging everyone to act in accordance.Within the isolated nation-states, which by virtue of the principle of absolute sovereignty were protected from influences, actions and external interference, extremisms have thrived. Feelings like selfishness, envy, greed and hubris, as well as attitudes of superiority, are rooted in that very nationalism that culminated in the nation-state and characterized the entire history of its time. The fact that this type of nationalism in Europe made reference to different ideas and different concepts of nation state, provided further reasons for conflict in a competition already particularly active and belligerent. According to the logic of the German national state, for example, the Germans were only those who could prove to be ethnically and culturally German, while the French membership to the nation was influenced by the idea of republican citizenship (citoyenneté), according to which the political will of the individual was considered constructive. The defects, limitations and contradictions of the nationalistic understanding of the state led to the wars of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. These went decreasing in number and intensity only after the bitter experience of two world wars, which originated precisely from that system and its fundamental conception, as a result of which the nation states were gradually appeased by democratic order relating to the rule of law.Crucial to Europe was the foundation and development of the European Community. The genius of this structure was precisely to establish it on those very values, the denial of which had deepened the crisis of the nation state and led to the catastrophe of two world wars of the past century. Since the nation-state was considered an absolute magnitude, beyond it and beyond its jurisdiction could not exist neither justice nor solidarity, neither peace nor reconciliation. Due to its inclusion in international or transnational organizations and structures, the nation-state was not exceeded. Freed from its worst vices, it emerged strengthened by the inclusion in the community of European States. The free, and independent sovereign nation-state thus became a Member State, subject to Community rules.As long as they abide by the Community rules, the Member States of the European Union draw considerable profit from this union. The economic and social problems which affect them today, are nothing other than the consequences of violations of those common rules.
