thabet
-
11:00:31 am on July 11, 2008 | # | |
Re-writing the idea of Europe: The Financial Times expresses scepticism over France’s proposals for a ‘Mediterranean union’, which may end up involving the Maghreb, Egypt, the Balkans, Turkey, Israel and Syria.
The Economist seems more upbeat about these proposals.
-
Tag this post
Comments
Join the Discussion
aziz 1:01 pm on July 11, 2008 | #
The idea of a Mediterranean Union is an appealing one. I found this graphic from the FT rather fascinating, illustrating the economic disparity of the nations around the Med Rim.
I am also reminded of the way in which the states surrounding the Great Lakes here in the US came together to form the Great Lakes Compact. Access to teh same massive shared body of water means that all adjacent polities have a vested interest in preserving it as a common resource. An economic union across the Med would also be a great way to uplift North Africa in particular, and provide an economic bulwark against fundamentalism.
Willow 3:17 pm on July 11, 2008 | #
I remain skeptical of the efficacy of any political union comprised largely of dictatorships. The Arab League is a laughable institution for that reason–Mubarak and Assad and Gaddafi don’t exactly believe in government by consensus.
aziz 3:47 pm on July 11, 2008 | #
thats how wisconsin feels about illinois
i see the point but we arent talking about a union for political powre, rather economic. that dort of policy coordination is pretty orthogonal to the liberty quotient. arguably, the union will increase per capita gdp in the poorer countries, which is strongly coordinated with liberty (as per Fareed Zakaria).