Understanding the EU, the US and their external spheres of rule: republican synergies, destructive feedbacks and dependencies

Abstract

Both the US and the European Union (EU) have been analysed as empires. In contrast, this article argues that a reconstructed republican theory centred on the fear of domination reveals deeper dynamics in both entities. Both entities have external spheres of influence. While the US is not dependent on this sphere to sustain internal stability, the EU is. When the EU enlargement ends and the external sphere is absorbed, the EU’s stability and legitimacy might be at risk. A possible solution lies in the European Neighbourhood Policy. Strengthening it would increase the EU’s control over its environment and its normative aspects.

Keywords:

• The European Union
• the US
• republicanism
• empire
• EU enlargement

Acknowledgement

This article was originally presented as a paper in the panel ‘Empires Past, and Future I: Present European and American Reflections’, at the ISA annual convention in 2009 I am grateful to the participants of the panel, the two anonymous reviewers, and the editor for their comments and suggestions. As always, any errors and mistakes are the author’s own. I also acknowledge that this article draws on parts of my book Stability without statehood (Palgrave 2011).

Notes

1. Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine.