The Impetus of International Security in European Integration: The Nature of EU Common Security and Defense Policy

This study explores the complicated relationship between security considerations and the European integration process. The research uncovers specific security factors that have shaped the EU integration process. Applying policy alignment and collective efforts for governance, this study offers a methodological improvement to the conventional status quo satisfaction concept within power transition theory. Findings indicate that external militarized actions targeting European nations only occasionally disrupted integration in the short term. Instead, inner coordination among member states vis-à-vis external actors, promoted integration. During the early stages of integration, alignment with the EU collective was crucial, while aligning with regional leader Germany became essential at higher integration levels. Additionally, the role of the Transatlantic Alliance and U.S. patronage proved complicated. US military personnel stationed in Europe created a subtle but consistently positive impact on the EU integration process, especially during the Cold War. Yet, aligning with the US in militarized interstate disputes against external actors did not promote EU countries’ integration process. The analysis highlights the United Kingdom as an outlier in terms of security and defense within the EU. The UK\u27s global and regional engagement in interstate disputes exceeded that of other EU members. Notably, the UK exhibited greater alignment with the U.S. in militarized disputes, paralleled by British public opinion unsupportive of a common foreign policy and an EU-wide security and defense policy. The future of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) hinges on the clusters among the member states and leadership dynamics amid key actors. Following Brexit, two primary groups have emerged within the EU, one favoring a common foreign policy and an EU-wide security and defense policy, and another generally opposed to these policies. The likelihood of ESDP development increases with greater convergence between these groups, but divergence decreases the prospects of common policies

Advancing Rationality with Sustainability: An Analysis of Agent-Based Simulation

Today, falling trends of species and ecosystem in the world due to overconsumption and destruction of natural resources are at critical levels. It is vital for humanity to operate with sustainable and resilient modes of production and consumption. In this regard, this paper examines the basic premise of rationality and introduces sustainability as an advancement to the theoretical concept of rationality. Thus, a rational mindset and a sustainable mindset are compared under depletion of environmental resources. The understanding of rationality in the analysis is based on Garett Hardin’s (1968) ‘the tragedy of the commons’ model, in which actors are self-interested and individualistic while seeking resources. Conversely, a sustainable mindset acknowledges environmental limitations and takes action accordingly. By utilizing agent-based modeling, both rational and sustainable mindsets are modeled, and their relative behavior are put into action in computer simulation. The results reveal that the basic understanding of rationality is not always going to maximize the utility of agents. Instead, there may be environmental conditions where having a sustainable mindset generates more wealth. In a scenario of resource depletion, the chances of survival decrease for rational agents. Their situation is exacerbated if their level of greed increases. However, the sustainable agents continue making stable wealth even with limited environmental resources. Rational actors must develop a sustainable mindset in order to acclimatize themselves to environmental deterioration

A Dissatisfied Partner: A Conflict - Integration Analysis of Britain\u27s Membership in the European Union

Since 2009, the European Union has faced the worst economic crisis of its history. Due to the devastating impact of the Eurozone crisis on their economies, European countries realized the need to deepen the integration. Without a fiscal union, the Monetary Union would always be prone to economic crises. However, the efforts to reinforce the Union’s economy have been hampered by the UK due to its obsession with national sovereignty and lack of European ideals. In opposing further integration, the UK officials have started to speak out about the probability of leaving the EU. The purpose of this paper is to present benefits and challenges of Britain’s EU membership and to assess the consequences of leaving the Union both for the UK and for the EU. This study utilizes Power Transition theory to analyze British impact on European integration. With the perspective of this theory, the UK is defined as a dissatisfied partner. By applying the conflict– cooperation model of Brian Efird, Jacek Kugler and Gaspare Genna, the effect of the UK’s dissatisfaction is empirically portrayed. The empirical findings of the conflict– integration model clearly show that Britain’s dissatisfaction has a negative impact on European integration and jeopardizes the future of the Union. Power Transitions analysis indicates that the UK would become an insignificant actor in the international system and lose the opportunity for the Union’s leadership if it leaves the EU. On the other hand, although Britain’s departure would be a significant loss in terms of capability, economic coherence is more important for the EU. Without enough commitment for the Union, increasing the level of integration with the UK would raise the probability of conflict with the integration process in the future

Global Power Transition and the Future of the European Union Will EU Leaders Stop Missing Key Opportunities?

Global Power Transition and the Future of the European Union Will EU Leaders Stop Missing Key Opportunities? Birol Yeşilada, Portland State University & Osman Göktuğ Tanrıkulu, Portland State University ABSTRACT Paper presented at the 2015 Conference of the European Union Studies Association in Boston, March 5-8. This paper applies power transition theory to EU’s future as a global power. It assesses economic and political/strategic capabilities of the EU vis-à-vis other global contenders as Transatlantic Alliance is challenged by rising powers in the east - China and India. Analysis includes simulations of how structural reforms (i.e fiscal union) and membership enlargement(s) are likely to affect EU’s ability to achieve its goal of becoming a global actor

Global Power Transition and the Future of the European Union

Today, the European Union faces challenges that threaten not only internal cohesion but also its position in the global system. This book is about the future of the EU in the light of global power transition taking place in the twenty-first century and demonstrates how its future rests on a delicate balance between policy challenge, member states’ interests, and convergence or divergence of societal values across its peoples. The book examines factors behind the decline of the EU relative to the rise of China and other powers in the global hierarchy and what policy options are available for EU leaders to implement in order to compete as a global actor. It analyses determinants of regional integration and key policy challenges the EU faces in its quest for an ever deeper union, and identifies significant factors (i.e., power relations, economic relations, emergent social values across the EU) that can explain the likelihood of further integration or conflict between EU member states. This text will be essential reading for scholars, students, and practitioners interested in European Union politics international relations, security studies, and comparative politics

Primary cardiac hydatid disease: Cross-sectional imaging features

Background. Although hydatid disease is common, individual series are usually not large as far as primary cardiac hydatid disease is concerned. We believe this study is the largest series of primary cardiac hydatid disease for which cross-sectional imaging is available

Juvenile dermatomyositis with joint contractures and calcinosis cutis

A 12-year-old boy presented to our department with firm papules on the fingers of both hands, erythematous scaly plaques on the dorsum of the hands and elbow, and deformities and limitation of motion in the joints of the hands and feet. His parents reported that the eruption started 6 years prior to presentation. He was previously diagnosed with psoriasis by physicians and acitretin treatment was given. However, he did not benefit from the treatment

Juvenile dermatomyositis with joint contractures and calcinosis cutis

A 12-year-old boy presented to our department with firm papules on the fingers of both hands, erythematous scaly plaques on the dorsum of the hands and elbow, and deformities and limitation of motion in the joints of the hands and feet. His parents reported that the eruption started 6 years prior to presentation. He was previously diagnosed with psoriasis by physicians and acitretin treatment was given. However, he did not benefit from the treatment