Subject: The application of the Perpetual peace theory of Emmanuel Kant: the European Union (Eu)'s model from 1952 to 1992

Introduction

The deaths of around 60 million soldiers and citizens, the destruction of cities, towns and villages across Europe, thousands of refugees and displaced persons were one of the Second world war's consequences. Therefore, a universal desire of European citizens was how to maintain peace and avoid another world war. The answer for this issue was the EU integration."It can be shown that this idea of federalism, extending gradually to encompass all states and thus leading to perpetual peace, is practicable and has objective reality. For if by good fortune one powerful and enlightened nation can form a republic which is by nature inclined to seek perpetual peace, this will provide a focal point for federal among other states. These will join up with the first one, thus securing the freedom of each state in accordance with the idea of international right, and the whole will gradually spread further and further by a series of alliances of this kind" . This theory won the heart and soul of some European countries. In 1952, the European Coal and Steal community (ECSC) begins to unite European countries economically and politically in order to secure lasting peace. Until now, EU has proved its role, position internationally. Furthermore, EU has set examples for many regional organizations to follow such as ASEAN, APEC,... Therefore, this essay would like to analyze the topic: "The application of the Perpetual peace theory of Immanuel Kant: the European Union (Eu)'s model from 1952 to 1992". This essay will give the brief summary of some academies, use some articles in the Maastricht Treaty which was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of European Communities (EC) in Maastricht, Netherlands to prove the three definitive articles of the perpetual peace theory.

Literature review

Allan Norre Pedersen (2010) analyzed the application of liberal peace theory on the context of the continuing enlargement of the European Union. The author used a liberal peace theory of Immanuel Kant, realism and liberal theories. The author proved that the EU has fulfilled two of the three criteria set out by Kant. Realism cannot prove right in the EU case. The author proved that the EU and the United States share a lot of interests and are also cooperating in many ways but still there is a tension between the two which sometimes can lead to conflict, but trade war instead .

Salikov (2015) examined the following problems: "Is it really possible to compare the ideas of Kant's essay "Toward perpetual peace"with the innovation and ambitious project of the EU?", "If such parallels are possible, to what extent does the structure of EU correspond to Kant's version?", "Which Kantian ideas are the utmost importance for future development of the EU". To answer these questions, the author analyzed the essay"Toward perpetual peace" of Immanuel Kant and European projects at the present time. Salikov came up with the conclusion that the modern-day EU fits quite well within the scope of Kant's federation of sovereign states to establish peace.

Methodology

This paper was design to study the application of the 'perpetual peace' theory in the EU's model. To clarify this subject, liberal theory has been chosen to explain because this theory has been one of the dominant theories of international relations. Besides, this essay will point out the three definitive articles of the perpetual peace as the main guidelines to prove the EU's operation in the research years was in accordance with Kantian ideas.

This chapter will be divided into the necessary explanatory, theoretical and analytical sections with the relevant subsections.

3.1. Liberalism

Liberal theory pointed out three core assumptions:

The first assumption argued that the demands of individuals and societal groups are treated as analytically prior to politics. Socially differentiated individuals define their material and ideational interests independently of politics and then advance those interests through political exchange and collective action.

The second assumption is about states or other political institutions represent some subset of domestic society, on the basis of whose interests state officials define state preferences and act purposively in world politics.

The third assumption demonstrates that the configuration of interdependence state preferences determines state behavior.

3.2. The first definitive article of the perpetual peace- the civil constitution of every state shall be republican

Three principles must be applied to a republican constitution, mainly the principles of freedom, dependence and equality. The principle of freedom must imply to all members of the society. The principle of dependence means that everyone is subject to a single common legislation. The last and third principle of an equality means that everyone is an equal citizen in the society and therefore is equal to the law.

3.3. The second definitive article of the perpetual peace- the rights of nations shall be based on a federation of free states.

It is necessary for each state to have security and therefore they should enter into a federation of people in which the constitution is similar to that of a civil one. This federation of States should not be an international state as that would be contradictory because a state involves the relationship between the superior (the legislator) and an inferior (the people) thus an international state would be a number of nations constituting a single State, which is in contradiction to the assumption that the states are separate units and not welded together in one unit.

3.4. The third definitive article of the perpetual peace- cosmopolitan right shall be limited to conditions of universal hospitality.

No one had more right than anyone else to any particular part of the earth. Therefore, Hospitality means the right of a visiting foreigner not to be treated as an enemy. Kant distinguishes that the foreigner has a right to be peacefully allowed to set foot on the territory and to ask to be accepted into that society from being accepted into the society that he doesn't have a right to.

Conclusion

The treaty on European Union signed in 1952 at Maastricht met the criteria of the three definitive articles of the perpetual peace.

Article A Tittle 1:" Common provisions "of this treaty is in accordance with the first of the first definitive article of the perpetual peace when it said: "This Treaty marks a new stage in the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, in which decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen. The Union shall be founded on the European Communities, supplemented by the policies and forms of cooperation established by this Treaty. Its task shall be to organize, in a manner demonstrating consistency and solidarity, relations between the Member States and between their people". Article C Tittle 1:" Common provisions" of this treaty was written in consistent with the second principle of the first definitive article of the perpetual peace "The Union shall be served by a single institutional framework which shall ensure the consistency and the continuity of the activities carried out in order to attain its objectives while respecting and building upon the acquis communautaire". Section 2 Article F Tittle 1:" Common provisions" of Maastricht treaty has shown the spirit of the third principle of the first definitive article of the perpetual peace: "The Union shall respect fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed in Rome on 4 November 1950 and as they result from the constitutional traditions common to the Member States, as general principles of Community law".

Section 1 of Article J.1 Tittle V: " Provisions on a common foreign and security policy "was written in harmony with the second definitive article of the perpetual peace :"The Union and its Member States shall define and implement a common foreign and security policy, governed by the provisions of this Title and covering all areas of foreign and security policy" . Section 1 Article F Tittle 1:" Common provisions" was written: "The Union shall respect the national identities of its Member States, whose systems of government are founded on the principles of democracy" also demonstrated that "States are separate units and not welded together in one unit".

Section 1 Article 8a Part 2:"Citizenship of the Union" Tittle 2:"Provisions amending the treaty establishing the European Economic Community with a view to establishing the European Community" was written in assent with the third definitive article of the perpetual peace "Every citizen of the Union shall have the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States, subject to the limitations and conditions laid down in this Treaty and by the measures adopted to give it effect".

Figure 1: A two-stage model of state behavior illustrates that State preferences has played an important role in planning foreign policies. In the stage of determining State preferences, foreign policy makers will realize that their policies are inclined to which international theories: Liberalism, Realism, or Constructivism. In the process of 1952 to 1992, through historical fluctuations, international events, Liberal theory as well as Perpetual peace theory were applied in policies of the European Union through "Treaty of Paris" (1952),"Treaty of Rome" (1958), "Treaty of Luxembourg" (1971), "Treaty of Brussels" (1977), " Single European act" (1987).