Evaluate whether intergovernmentalism or supranational government or both help us understand European Union Politics

Running Head : UNDERSTANDING EU POLITICS

Understanding the Politics of the European Union

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There is perhaps no more intriguing , complex , and confusing political institution existing in the world today as that of the European Union (EU . The EU can be considered both as a politico-economic union among 27 member-states and as an international organisation said to be operating through decision-making methods and processes of a supranational ' and intergovernmental ' nature (Leal-Arcas , 2006 The emergence of

the EU is often referred to as a mode of regional integration - favoring interdependence over independence , developing a standardised body of laws that is enforceable in all member states and even a single currency called the Euro (Nelsen Stubb , 1998 Undeniably , the global influence of the EU is significant today . It grabs a lion share of 28 percent of the nominal gross world product and is populated by a sizable share of the world market with 500 million citizens (Central Intelligence Agency , 2010

However , there has been considerable debate on what the EU really is as a political entity . Unlike normative s of state and democracy , the EU possesses no territory it calls its own , no power of taxation , and is dependent on the community of Member States to implement legislative and executive measures (Eriksen , 1999 . Strictly speaking , it cannot be called a State because it is the Member States and not the citizens , who decide laws...