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What we mean by “Europe” today is the result of a long journey
which starts in ancient Greece, and therefore considered its true heart. It
is during the Persian Wars and the conquests of Alexander the Great that the
concept of Europe, seen as the centre of a new civilization, was born. In fact,
“being European” comes from the awareness of what is meant by its
opposite, that is, “not being European” (African or Asian for instance).
This contrapposition is strictly linked to that desire, typical of European
peoples, to expand their boundaries to the detriment of African or Asian peoples.
This conflict between the West and the East is evident even during the Roman
Era. Culturally speaking the awareness of belonging to Western civilization
means being superior and that leads to a clear distinction between civilised
Europe and Barbarian world. At the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Europe
identifies herself with western Christianity in contrast with the eastern Christianity
of Constantinople.
In the early Middle Ages Europe continues to identify itself with the Christian
peoples under the authority of Charlemagne, who managed to pacify the land.
However, in 1300 the fragility of the emperors and the weakness of the Roman
Church determine a drastic shift in power. We can see the rise of new national
monarchies anxious to enlarge their borders to the detriment of European equilibrium
and peace. With such premises the idea of Europe is but that of a cultural and
moral entity whose division is caused by the greediness of the rich and of the
powerful and not by objective differences among its various peoples.
Throughout the 16th century Europe is hit by religious, political and social
wars. With the geographical discoveries the political and cultural heart is
moved beyond the Atlantic Ocean. The intellectuals, both Humanists and the thinkers
of Enlightenment, are constantly seeking a solution which could prevent conflicts
from breaking out. Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau are the main representatives.
The French Revolution strongly reaffirms the concept of a national identity
as the centre of popular sovereignty. However, Kant recognises that the rights
within a country do not protect citizens from wars. Conflicts can be avoided
only by setting up a federation of nations with an established judicial system,
universally accepted and recognised. Europe is a land made up of people and
this concept is confirmed by a number of armed insurrections which characterized
the first half of the 19th century, movements which developed from Mazzini’s
idea of “Giovine Europa” (Young Europe).
By creating this movement, Mazzini designs a sort of “European congress”
which should represent all its peoples, guided by their own "national congresses”
and by a supernational “supreme congress”. The European Union therefore
becomes a mission whose goals are not only the freedom but also the welfare
of its peoples, the peaceful solutions to all political contrasts, the freedom
of speech and of the press, and the education of the masses.
Many Socialist thinkers at the end of the 19th century are in favour of the
idea of European unity within a multinational federation based on the model
of the United States of America. The First World War shows how impossible it
is to disregard the problems each single member may have in terms of economic,
political and social issue: these becomes the main purpose of the League of
Nations.
But in a leading article published on “Corriere della Sera” Einaudi
restates the discrepancy between the League of Nations and the principle of
absolute sovereignty of the states, a tension which might bring about new widespread
violence. Einaudi explains the difference between the concepts of Federation
and Confederation. The former is strictly linked to the organisation of the
United States of America whereas the latter refers to the League of Nations,
not able to guarantee peace and stability. In this opinion it is advisable for
Europe to follow the American example.
The Second World War underlines the great crisis of the national states. An
example is “Il Manifesto di Ventotene” written by some antifascist
intellectuals such as Spinelli, Rossi and Colorni. It paves the way for a new
European federalist movement capable of defeating dictatorships and wars. With
the end of the Second World War and the beginning of the Cold War, Western Europe
begins a process of military cooperation (NATO) and economic cooperation (Marshall
Plan) in contrast with the eastern block under the Russian influence. The historic
declaration by Schuman in 1950 regarding the Saar issue gives rise to the process
of European integration proposing to place the Franco-German production of coal
and steel under a high European authority.
Program of the workshop
go to project "Per un cittadino
consapevole"
