SUPRANATIONALISMTENDENCY FOR STATES TO GIVE UP POLITICAL POWER TO A HIGHER AUTHORITY IN PURSUIT OF COMMON OBJECTIVES (political, economic, military, environmental)

FRQ:2 Supranationalism and

Devolution

SUPRANATIONALISM• Involves multiple national states (two or

more) with a common goal.

• Examples: European UnionNAFTAUNNATO

DEVOLUTION

•A kind of decentralization whereby a state transfers some power to a self-defined community, such as one of its national groups•Process whereby regions within a state demand and gain political strength and growing autonomy at the expense of the central government.

•Breakup of a state (balkanization)

Examples of DevolutionBreak up of a state• Yugoslavia / Balkans

• Former U.S.S.R.

• Czechoslovakia

• Austria-Hungary

Demand for autonomyUK: Scotland, Wales,

Ireland, N. Ireland

Spain: Basques, Catalonians

EFFECTS OF SUPRANATIONALISM

• Free Trade (reduced Tariffs) = economic prosperity

• Common Currency

• Open Borders for labor & tourists

• Greater international influence– Greater political/eco power– More power to compete with economies of other

countries

EFFECTS OF SUPRANATIONALISM

• Loss of Control over individual policy

• War is less likely

• Common policy – Resources, agriculture, economic, environment,

trade, military

EFFECTS OF DEVOLUTION• Formation of new states

• More power to regions– Formation of new legislatures– Local control over policy

• Local ethno-nationalism– Linguistic – Religious revival

• Regional separatism

EFFECTS OF DEVOLUTION• Political instability– Civil war– Fighting– Hostility– Ethnic cleansing

• Economic instability

• Mass Migration– Refugees– emigration

FRQ #2 Practice• The modern state system is engaged in a struggle

between the forces of supranationalism and devolution. • a. Define both terms and give a geographic example of

each. (5 pts) • b. With reference to the political and economic

geography of Europe, briefly discuss 2 changes resulting from supranationalism. (10 pts)

• c. With reference to the political and economic geography of Europe, briefly discuss 2 changes resulting from devolution. (10 pts)