This Master’s thesis aspires to illuminate the historiographical disagreement on US Secretary of State Dean Acheson’s role in the ‘single package’, and explain this American proposal’s role in...Show moreThis Master’s thesis aspires to illuminate the historiographical disagreement on US Secretary of State Dean Acheson’s role in the ‘single package’, and explain this American proposal’s role in initiating the European Defense Community (EDC) project. Furthermore, this paper argues that Washington’s ‘single package’ strategy does fit into John Lewis Gaddis’ model of US alliance management, because it can be regarded as an exception within this model. The research question of this thesis is: to what extent was the EDC initiated by the US and what was their intended aim with the EDC? In order to be able to answer that question, particularly the French government’s role in the EDC affair and its intended aim with the EDC also has to be taken into account. The first chapter will discuss the American position on, and involvement in, the EDC initiative, until the announcement of the Pleven Plan. It will also consider the Containment strategy and the historiography on the ‘single package’ proposal. The second chapter will discuss the French position on, and involvement in, the EDC initiative, until the Pleven Plan. Because this paper’s research question focuses on Washington’s role concerning the EDC, the second chapter will primarily illuminate how France’s position on a European army related to the American position. It also discusses the historiography on France and ‘the German problem.’ For instance, this thesis disputes Michael Creswell and Marc Trachtenberg’s argument that Paris was not somehow forced to accept a US policy for Germany which France totally opposed, and disagrees with their conclusion that fundamentally the Western occupation powers of Germany agreed on the most crucial issues concerning Germany’s development before the North Atlantic Council summit in New York during September 1950. Finally, the third chapter will illuminate both the United States’ intended aim with the EDC, and the French intended aim with the EDC. Again, the main focus will be on how French aims related to Washington’s aims. Furthermore, the third chapter will illuminate the connection between the EDC, German rearmament and the Schuman Plan.Show less
Democracy is under pressure in Europe. On national levels trust in politicians and the political system is decreasing, satisfaction is low and protests are increasing. People feel not heard by...Show moreDemocracy is under pressure in Europe. On national levels trust in politicians and the political system is decreasing, satisfaction is low and protests are increasing. People feel not heard by their chosen representatives and some start to experiment with other forms of democracy. This discontent is especially visible in relation to the European Union that is accused to have severe democratic deficits. This started a debate on the current electoral representative system. This thesis investigates if the democratic deficit of the EU can be solved by introducing citizens’ bodies based on sortition, the random selection of citizens instead of electing representatives.Show less
