EU enlargement: adoption or expansion

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EU enlargement adoption or expansion?

• Gert Jan Hofstede
• Wageningen University
• Social Science Group
• Information technology Group

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Abstract

• My thesis is that Europe has been a mixed bag
  since prehistoric times, due to numerous
  migration waves, and the various Europeans are
  not going to give up their identities. The
  current perception differences between old and
  new member states are merely a ripple in this
  history, caused by the iron curtain that resulted
  from WW2. After accession, these will be replaced
  by other perception differences, as political
  events will dictate. Old similarities and
  differences between cultures will remain. The
  Hungarians, for instance, have been different
  from the peoples around them since 900 BC - that
  will not end with EU accession.
• To illustrate this thesis Ill first take a
  helicopter view of Europes history, then explain
  my ideas about culture as the rules of the social
  game in a society (inspired by my fathers work),
  then jump to reflections about the future.
• I expect that the current accession countries
  will profit economically, as have previous
  newcomers (Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Greece). I
  also expect greater labour mobility to occur.
  Also, some migration will be enhanced workers to
  the old, tourists to the newer countries, and
  workers from beyond the new EU frontier to work
  in the new accession countries. But I do not
  expect blurring of cultural boundaries. There
  will be forces of reaction and segregation in the
  current accession countries.
• The EU will unfortunately continue to have
  difficulty agreeing on anything. The lack of a
  father for the European family will severely
  limit its acceptance by its new citizens. If
  external political pressures force the EU, more
  of a uniform face will be created.
• N. B. I am by no means competent to give the
  final word in all the disciplines needed for this
  session. My predictions are no more than guesses
  really but hopefully educated ones.
• My conclusion is Accession Adoption, not
  likely, but necessary Expansion yes, certainly.

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History of Europe

• 8000-4000 BC spread of agriculture from SE to
  NW. Local hunters-gatherers adopt agriculture,
  and immigrant farmers settle among them.
• 900 BC Magyars invade Hungary
• 200 BC - 400 AD Roman Empire dominates Europe and
  implants culture through legionnaire settlements
• 800 AD Charlemagne -gt Holy Roman Empire in
  Central Europe
• 800-1945 Intra-European wars between
  ever-changing coalitions of states, driven by
  quest for power of leaders, often using religious
  justification
• 1950 European Economic Union (6 countries) born
  post-WW2 to end wars. But Cold War starts iron
  curtain drawn between Western and Soviet Union -
  dominated territory
• 2002 EU unified monetarily too. But not in other
  respect e.g. no common language in government
  matters.
• 2002-3 European convention attempts to prelude
  European constitution and increased coherence
  (e.g. stable presidency of Euro Council and
  Minister of Foreign Affairs for EU)
• 2004-2050 Accession of ever more states using
  various levels of integration
• 2100 Europe still not unified but struggling

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National culture

• it is the way you were brought up
• Your culture is like your nose
• although you do not see it properly yourself,
• everybody else perceives it,
• and thinks it is peculiar if it differs from
  theirs.
• moreover,
• you always go where it leads you, and
• it is always in the way.

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Manifestations of culture

• Values
• good / bad
• clean / dirty
• brave / cowardly
• sane / crazy

• Symbols
• changing presidency
• Heroes
• Giscard dEstaing
• Rituals
• diplomatic meeting
• Discourse
• European family

Values are hidden forces...
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Five basic issues of social life five
dimensions of values

• Identity
• Hierarchy
• Gender roles and aggression
• Truth and the unknown
• Virtue now or later
• 1970-84 Five linear scales created by Geert
  Hofstede

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Europe Idv (collectivist to individualist)
.
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Europe PD (small power distance to large power
distance)
.
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Europe MAS (feminine to masculine)
.
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Europe UA (uncertainty tolerant to uncertainty
avoiding)
.
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Bibliography

• Geert Hofstede
• (1980, 2001) Cultures Consequences. Sage.
• Bible
• (1991) Cultures and Organizations. McGraw Hill.
• Popular book with background
• http//www.geerthofstede.com
• Gert Jan Hofstede
• (2002) Exploring Culture. Intercultural Press.
• With Paul Pedersen and Geert Hofstede
• Getting started
• http//www.info.wau.nl/people/gj-uk.htm