Why the European Union is not an Integrated Entity

by
Alan Tonkin
23 August 2010

Alan Tonkin is Chairman of the Global Values Network Group whose www.globalvaluesnetwork.com web site is one of the most advanced in the world at using Spiral Dynamics to monitor shifts in societies and assess impacts at both national, international and even global levels.

This piece was written for the August 2010 special edition of the highly thought-provoking e-zine Integral Leadership Review focusing on German-speaking cultures. Alan thought it would also sit well as an article on www.integratedsociopsychology.net and graciously offered it for publication here as well.

The European Union (EU) is a body which is divided by widely differing values in terms of the ‘Old Europe’ and the ‘New Europe’.  This is how Donald Rumsfelt described the EU while serving as US Defence Secretary in the Administration of President George W Bush.  

In examining this statement it is interesting to consider the very different history and backgrounds of the original founding countries - and including core states such as Germany, France and Britain - compared to some of the recent entrants and the pending request to join the EU from Turkey and other countries.  

Although nominally part of the EU a number of the more recent members such as Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia share very different ‘values sets’, comparing them with the founding countries. This is one of the reasons why European political integration is still many years away, if it is to be achieved at all.      

Demographics

The combined population of the 27 member states in January, 2010 was just over 501 million.  This amounts to 7.3% of the total global population making this one of the most densely populated areas in the world. The largest cities in the EU are London, Berlin, Madrid, Rome and Paris. The most used languages are English, German, French, Italian and Spanish in that order.

Economy

Treated as a single economy the EU generated a GDP of US $16.45 trillion in 2009 amounting to over 21% of the world’s total economic output, in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP).  This makes it the second largest economic block in the world by PPP valuation, ranking only behind the United States.

In considering the issue of values we will look at some of the core founding states as well as the more recent entrants in order to provide meaningful comparisons.  At the same time we will consider why these differences occur and look at the underlying reasons for these based on values.

Methodology

In making these comparisons I will be using selected information extracted from the work of Dr Don Beck from the US who over the last 30 years has used the values approach originally put forward by Dr Clare Graves from Union College in New York.  Don Beck has spent over 30 years in researching values around the world in a variety of countries including South Africa, the Middle East, South and Central America, as well as in Europe, Asia and North America.

The approach by Don Beck uses a colour coding approach to the values stations originally identified by Clare Graves. This system of values is open ended and has evolved over the centuries to more advanced value systems.  It is important to note that values exist in most people as a ‘values mix’” rather than at one particular position – see The Psychological Map (left) and Stratified Democracy graphics (below left) below.

In addition, the values in people can move up and down the spectrum very much like changing gears in a car as ‘life conditions’ change. This is like having an 8-speed gearbox for some individuals with others having fewer gears available to them.

In considering the EU as a whole, it is important to note the differences between ‘founding member states’ compared to new entrants who were previously part of Eastern Europe with very different values systems. Equally, the UK is much closer to the US values mix compared to some of the Scandinavian countries (see below).       

In order to illustrate the above graphic in more detail it is intended to take selected groupings of EU member states and show how their values tend to differ. Here we will take a range from those still stabilising in Blue Order moving through Orange Enterprise and on to Green Social Democracies. We will also use a number of examples of countries still seeking EU membership such as Turkey.

Countries in Early Values Transition to EU Membership

Turkey, Iceland, Croatia and Macedonia (Official EU Candidate Countries )

Turkey and latterly Iceland, Croatia and Macedonia have been pressing for EU membership. However, the EU Copenhagen criteria have up to now proved difficult for them to meet fully. In addition, Germany and France have often resisted some additions including Turkey, a full NATO member but still to join the EU.   

Due to its history and large Muslim population Turkey is grappling with the issue of becoming a fully secular state with the type of freedoms and governance required by the EU.  On the other hand the other states quoted above are still very much in the transition phase to meeting the requirements. Following the recent global financial crisis it is unlikely that any of these will be granted EU membership in the near future.  

Countries with an Emphasis on Strong BLUE Order  

Poland (joined 2004)/Romania/Bulgaria (joined 2007)

All three countries have a history of autocratic leadership and Soviet influence in the past through their links to the Warsaw Pact.  This has

now changed but the values present in these countries still lag behind the core states of the EU. These countries are very similar in terms of values to many of the previous Eastern European states who have joined the EU since the mid - 1990’s. As shown in the graphic above, authoritarian rule comes out of a strong BLUE Order base.

Countries with a Strong Mix of BLUE Order & ORANGE Enterprise

France and Germany (joined 1957)

France and West Germany were founder members of the EU and East Germany was fully incorporated into West Germany in 1990 to form the larger German state, following the break-up of the USSR. However, with the recent and ongoing global financial crisis there has been a regressive move towards more BLUE Order and a step away from elements of ORANGE Enterprise.  It is interesting to note that both President Sarkozy in France and Chancellor Merkel in Germany are losing the support of their electorates in terms of a conservative approach to fiscal policy.

United Kingdom (Joined 1973)

In joining the EU the UK retained its own currency and is not a part of the Eurozone.  However, there is still ongoing discussion in Britain regarding whether the UK should remain in or take itself outside the EU.  The UK is a very interesting example as it has a history of both positive and negative BLUE Order in terms of its social net for citizens while the role of the trades unions is often seen to be a negative influence.  The current Coalition Government has a strong ORANGE Enterprise Conservative base but also a strong Social Conscience coming out of the Liberal Democrats trend towards Social Democracy.   

Italy (joined 1957)/Greece (joined 1981)/Spain (joined 1986)

These countries have a more relaxed Mediterranean way of life and values mix than many other countries in the EU.  They are also the countries which are currently experiencing severe fiscal deficits with all the attendant political uncertainty. Italy as one of the major economies of Europe was a founding member of the EU with Greece and Spain joining in the 1990’s.

The relatively laid-back Mediterranean climate and culture cover the full values range from RED Power, through BLUE Order and ORANGE Enterprise and on to elements of GREEN Social Democracy.  This wide values mix has in its own way partly contributed to their current financial crisis.    

Countries with a Strong Green Emphasis on Social Democracy   

Denmark (joined 1973)/ Sweden (joined 1995)

Both these countries fall into the ‘Social Democracy’ values mix though Norway still remains outside the EU.  However, in recent years the Scandinavian countries have become closer to the EU norm as other countries moved into a similar values space.

What is clear from the above examples is that, although the EU is a formally constituted body, it currently has a long way to go towards actively achieving a core of ‘shared values’. This will inhibit future progress to a more uniform governance system and will restrict any real movement on the political front.  This has been clearly illustrated in terms of obtaining agreement in resolving the current financial crisis caused by the so called ‘PIGS’ (Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain).