EUROSCEPTICISM AND NEIGHBOURHOOD PEACE

ABSTRACT

This article argues that the exceptionally complex spatial organisation of integration is shaped by spatial patterns of socio-cultural difference and similarity which emerge over the course of history. I outline two interacting socio-cultural factors that help shape the spatial patterns of integration: the international relations culture of demilitarised relations between neighbouring countries and northern Euroscepticism. I show that these have different historically evolving spatial patterns, which affect how specific regions and countries engage with integration. I propose that Europe's spatially differentiated integration and weak collective identity are increasingly bringing this connection between culture, geography and politics to prominence. This is rarely noticed however, because the centrality of collective identity in defining the geography of nations has made it the main focus of academic study and political speculation. My approach makes Europe's historical geography an ‘actor’ in the spatial patterning of integration. However the complexity of interacting historical factors and continuous historical change differentiate this approach from essentialist and deterministic theories of historical continuities in the EU's geography.

Keywords:

• European integration
• differentiated integration
• Euroscepticism
• security community
• regionalism

Notes

¹Sub-national historical geographies also affect integration. A vivid example is the stronger pro-integration vote in formerly German regions of Poland (see http://www.electoralgeography.com/new/en/countries/p/poland/poland-european-union-referendum-2003.html). However I concentrate here on diversity among states, as they are key spatial units in integration.

²As does the present economic crisis.

³See http://correlatesofwar.org/COW2%20Data/MIDs/MIDB_3.10.csv. MIDs are incidents below the level of war, including fortification of borders, military incursions, exchanges of fire, threats of force, military mobilisations and seizures of planes and ships.

⁴See http://milexdata.sipri.org/.

⁵See maps at http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD/countries?display=map, http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/beyond/beyondco/beg_09.pdf, http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=15, http://www.transparency.org/publications/publications and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_rights.

⁶Francophone Swiss are much more pro-EUropean.

⁷Large western European and former Austro-Hungarian territories combine historical traditions of national centralism and regional autonomy. Since the 1970s, devolution in Spain, Britain, Italy and even France increasingly acknowledges this diversity.

⁸See http://milexdata.sipri.org/.

⁹See for example http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11&chapter=4&lang=en, http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=IND&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-a&chapter=27&lang=en, http://treaties.un.org/PagesViewDetails.aspx?src=IND&mtdsg_no=XVIII-10&chapter=18&lang=en and http:/treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=IND&mtdsg_no=XXVI-5&chapter=26&lang=en.