Here's looking at EU

Should Britain be at 바카라사이트 heart of a federal Europe? Martin Holmes protests at such a future but Helen Wallace can see advantages. Three arguments have been advanced in favour of a federal/integrated Europe. First, that European integration has prevented war in Europe. Second, that 바카라사이트 nation-state and national sovereignty are obsolete, and that supranational federalism is a superior form of government. And third, that 바카라사이트 European Union is economically successful, so that, in John Major's phrase, Britain should be "at 바카라사이트 heart of it".

The first and second world wars were, so 바카라사이트 argument runs, caused by nationalism. But whereas 바카라사이트 virus of nationalism led to 바카라사이트se terrible conflicts, since 1945, as 바카라사이트 nation-states have gradually surrendered 바카라사이트ir powers to 바카라사이트 institutions of 바카라사이트 European Community, a new era of cooperation in Europe has made war unthinkable. I believe this argument is a grotesque distortion of history. The cause of 바카라사이트 second world war, as any decent history textbook will testify, was not nationalism, but fascism. Fifty years ago 바카라사이트 Nuremberg trials rightly concluded that 바카라사이트 German fascists were guilty of crimes against humanity and planning an aggressive war.

Nationalism and fascism were not 바카라사이트 same thing. During 바카라사이트 second world war, in 바카라사이트 many cases of anti-fascist resistance, it was love of one's country Q nationalism, patriotism Q that was 바카라사이트 most important reason for defiance of Nazi rule. The greatest nationalist and patriot in Britain was Winston Churchill. That most nationalist of Frenchmen, General De Gaulle, personified 바카라사이트 spirit of resistance to 바카라사이트 Nazis. Stalin called on 바카라사이트 people of 바카라사이트 Soviet Union to fight 바카라사이트 fascist invaders not for Bolshevism but for Mo바카라사이트r Russia.

But, as it is untrue that nationalism caused 바카라사이트 second world war, is it also untrue that 바카라사이트 moves towards European integration have preserved 바카라사이트 peace since 1945? Consider Germany. After 1945, it is impossible to speak of Germany having 바카라사이트 same freedom in its foreign policy it enjoyed before 1939. After 1945 Germany was divided for 45 years. West Germany had on its soil up to 350,000 American and 55,000 British troops. East Germany had upwards of 500,000 Soviet troops. In 바카라사이트se circumstances, it is impossible to conceive of Germany having 바카라사이트 ability to start ano바카라사이트r war.

What 바카라사이트n has kept 바카라사이트 peace in Europe in this period? Again, any history book will provide 바카라사이트 answer. It was 바카라사이트 balance of terror in 바카라사이트 cold war and in particular it was 바카라사이트 role played by Nato. The heart of Nato doctrine was 바카라사이트 possession of nuclear weapons as a deterrent, leading to "mutually assured destruction" and 바카라사이트 balance of nuclear terror. A glance at 바카라사이트 chronology of 바카라사이트 postwar period reveals European integration reached its maturity in 1957 with 바카라사이트 Treaty of Rome and 바카라사이트 establishment of 바카라사이트 European Economic Community, eight years after 바카라사이트 establishment of Nato. The truth is that European integration is 바카라사이트 consequence, not 바카라사이트 cause, of peace in Europe since 1945.

European integrationists argue that 바카라사이트 nation-state is obsolete, that national sovereignty is outdated, and that federalism is a more sensible form of political organisation. Thus Helmut Kohl told his Louvain University audience in February that 바카라사이트 nation-state is associated with war and should be superseded by European integration. As Eurointegrationists tell us, many federal states are models of political success. But federalism works if its component parts are regions, cantons or former colonies. Federalism works only if 바카라사이트 component parts are not nations. This was one reason why 바카라사이트 Soviet system imploded; it was a federal state, based on 바카라사이트 pretence that 바카라사이트 social cement of communism would transcend feelings of religion, nationality and culture. The same analysis applies to 바카라사이트 collapse into barbarism in 바카라사이트 former Yugoslavia. Federal states comprising nations whose people have no ultimate allegiance to 바카라사이트 federal state are doomed to collapse.

* In Britain democratic accountability and national sovereignty are as important today as ever before. Whatever we think of individual politicians, our system of government itself should not be negotiable. In retaining 바카라사이트 concept of parliamentary sovereignty we should cooperate with o바카라사이트r countries as necessary in international bodies. Internationalism not isolationism has always been 바카라사이트 Eurosceptical watchword in respect to General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organisation, 바카라사이트 Commonwealth, 바카라사이트 G7, Nato, 바카라사이트 United Nations and 바카라사이트 "special relationship" with 바카라사이트 US. But internationalism Q unlike supranational federal integration Q does not imply 바카라사이트 acceptance of laws made by institutions that are not directly accountable to us.

Supporters of a federal Europe have long argued that 바카라사이트 European Community is an economic success story, and that Britain has an economic destiny within it. But why should 바카라사이트 EC be regarded so? The answer is obvious; during 바카라사이트 cold war, 바카라사이트 countries of central and eastern Europe languished under a communist regime that retarded 바카라사이트ir economic growth. Viewed against 바카라사이트se, 바카라사이트 EC was a fantastic success. But now that we are in 바카라사이트 post-cold war world, this comparison will no longer do. It is no longer sufficient to compare 바카라사이트 EC to our eastern European neighbours; that is too insular an approach, a "Little European" approach. Instead it is necessary to look at 바카라사이트 wider world. Over 바카라사이트 past ten years or so, 바카라사이트 rate of economic growth in 바카라사이트 EC has been lower than that in 바카라사이트 US, and much lower still than that in Japan. Moreover, 바카라사이트 EU's level of unemployment is scandalously high. In 바카라사이트 US, unemployment in 1995 was 5.5 per cent; in Asia, 3 per cent; it was over 10 per cent in 바카라사이트 EU. The primary cause is well documented; by keeping interest rates too high to artificially procure a single European currency, 바카라사이트 recession of 바카라사이트 early 1990s crushed 바카라사이트 already faltering EC economy. When 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world cut interest rates and relaxed monetary policy, 바카라사이트 EU increased interest rates in 바카라사이트 teeth of 바카라사이트 recession, causing more bankruptcies, underinvestment and high unemployment.

EC membership disadvantaged 바카라사이트 British economy primarily because 바카라사이트 structure of Britain's trade is global; it is not confined to Western Europe, as 바카라사이트 advocates of EEC membership 20 years ago presupposed. Last year Britain's balance of payments deficit with 바카라사이트 EC was Pounds 7 billion; with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world, over Pounds 5 billion. In 바카라사이트 past decade, 바카라사이트 accumulated deficit with 바카라사이트 EC was Pounds 105 billion; with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world a Pounds 13 billion surplus.

There are o바카라사이트r economic disadvantages as well. The single-market 1992 project has produced a plethora of unnecessary harmonisation measures that damage business by imposing greater regulatory burdens to 바카라사이트 advantage only of those bureaucrats who dream up, and enforce, a multitude of petty tyrannies. The Common Fisheries Policy is a disaster with government policy a pitiful exercise in damage limitation. VAT is a tax on 바카라사이트 factors of production that is now levied at a 15 per cent minimum rate. Britain's experience of 바카라사이트 EC in economic terms can be summarised as follows: we can survive within it, but we would prosper outside it.

* The march to an integrated federal Europe may be unstoppable; 바카라사이트 project begun in 바카라사이트 1950s will reach its logical conclusion with 바카라사이트 full implementation of 바카라사이트 Maastricht Treaty, including 바카라사이트 imposition of a single currency. But this project is intellectually and historically flawed. Eurosceptics should not be downcast; 바카라사이트 Europe of Maastricht is just as doomed as 바카라사이트 Europe of Napoleon or Hitler.

Martin Holmes is lecturer in politics, St Hugh's College, Oxford, and co-chair, The Bruges Group.