1. Key Issue #3: Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other?
Supranationalism – movement of countries to organize for political, economic, military, and/or cultural cooperation to promote shared objectives
Devolution – process where regions within a state demand and gain political strength and growing autonomy at the expense of the central government
Political & Military Cooperation
United Nations (UN)
Created by Allies after WWII in 1945
1st attempt after WWI – League of Nations (dissolved in 1930s); U.S. never joined even though it was proposed by President Woodrow Wilson
49 states in 1945, now 193 states (includes every internationally recognized state except Vatican City)
Maintains strict neutrality; may send peacekeeping forces by requesting forces from members (not authorized to attack)
Emphasizes diplomacy
Security Council (can veto forces) – rotating members plus permanent members of China, Russia/USSR, France, U.K., & U.S.

2. Key Issue #3: Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other?
Political & Military Cooperation
Regional Military Alliances
Began because of the 2 superpowers after WWII during Cold War (U.S. & USSR)
Balance of power – equal strength between opposing alliances (no single state dominates); usually there were more than 2 superpowers
Alliances expanded to shift or restore balance of power
U.S. & USSR – allies were a symbol of power for each; wanted to avoid upsetting allies but willing to send troops to maintain allies; established military bases in other countries
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – began by 14 democratic countries of Western Europe, U.S., and Canada (HQ in Brussels, Belgium); France & Spain are members but do not send troops
Warsaw Pact – began by 7 communist Eastern European countries in 1955 to protect against NATO
NATO troops greatly reduced after fall of Communism; Warsaw Pact was disbanded
Many former Warsaw Pact countries have joined NATO
Organization on Security & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) – 55 members; most of Europe, U.S., Canada, Russia; does not directly command troops

3. Key Issue #3: Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other?
Political & Military Cooperation
Other regional organizations
Organization of American States (OAS) – 35 states in Western Hemisphere (all except Cuba); promotes social, political, & economic links
African Union (AU) – 53 countries in Africa (2001); economic integration; replaced Organization of African Unity
British Commonwealth of Nations – UK & 53 former British colonies (including Australia, Canada, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, etc.); economic & cultural cooperation
Economic Cooperation
More than 2 superpowers again since fall of USSR (1991)
Key differences pre- to post-Cold War:
Most important superpower factors are economic not military (Japan, Germany)
Supranational superpower – European Union (EU) is biggest superpower but not a single state

4. Key Issue #3: Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other?
Economic Cooperation EU
Formerly European Economic Community (EEC), Common Market, & European Community (EC)
Established in 1958 by Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy, West Germany (to heal wounds of WWII)
Germany not a nation state until 1871 when Frederick the Great of Prussia and Otto von Bismark (chancellor) consolidated many German-speaking areas into one country
Lost territory after WWI (to France & Poland; gained East Prussia/Konigsberg/Kaliningrad) but reclaimed land in 1930s with Nazis
Territory redrawn after WWII – West Germany (U.S., UK, France) & East Germany (USSR); Berlin also carved into 4 zones (3 west & 1 east); Berlin was completely surrounded by East Germany; Berlin Wall; 2 Germanies from
EU added members in 1973, 1981, 1986, 1995 (Denmark, Ireland, UK, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Finland, Sweden)
2004 – former communist countries added (Czech Rep., Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania (also Cyprus joined)
2013 – Croatia joined to bring total membership to 28
Possible future members: Iceland, Macedonia, Montenegro, Turkey, Serbia

5. Key Issue #3: Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other?
Economic Cooperation EU
Europe is world’s wealthiest market
Over 500 million in population (7.3% of world)
$18 trillion GDP (20% of world)
Main goal – increase development among members through economic cooperation
Farm subsidies – money paid to supplement farmers’ incomes
Increase free trade – remove barriers such as tariffs, border crossing issues, passport requirements and open new bank branches and introduce a common currency (euro)
EU has some shared political & legal cooperation as well
Euro used as sole currency in 18 of 28 EU countries as well as non-EU countries such as Kosovo, Montenegro, and several European microstates
European Parliament – elected by member states for representation
EU headquarters located in Brussels, Belgium

6. Key Issue #3: Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other?
Other Supranational Organizations
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) – U.S. Canada, Mexico (economic, remove barriers to trade)
OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) – control oil pricing and supply
Caricom (Caribbean Community) - economic & political
ACS (Association of Caribbean States) – trade, tourism, transportation, disaster aid
Mercosur (Southern Common Market) & Andean Community of Nations (CAN) have been combined as UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) – economic & political
Arab League – 22 Arab countries (economic, political, & cultural cooperation)
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) – loose collection of former Soviet states joined for economic and security purposes (also called the Russian Commonwealth)
Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) – 57 members; “the collective voice of the Muslim world”
Council of Europe (CoE) – 47 members; promotes human rights & unity