This paper seeks to find an answer to the question: "How does BlackRock interact with European industrial policies, such as the Green Deal, and what implications might this have for public...Show moreThis paper seeks to find an answer to the question: "How does BlackRock interact with European industrial policies, such as the Green Deal, and what implications might this have for public objectives?" Key findings suggest that BlackRock has a significant sphere of influence in and around the institutions that constitute the European Union. BlackRock hires strategically by employing former high-ranking government officials, people who have often overseen regulatory processes about BlackRock itself. Furthermore, BlackRock employees occupy strategic positions within several European bodies, such as the EFAMA. BlackRock is very pro-Green Deal to the outside world, but behind the scenes they actively lobby for policies that either delay or undo the Green-Deal policies. They don’t do this using the name “BlackRock” however, they do this through many different Trade Groups which BlackRock dominates. The study concludes that we can speak of a “regulatory capture” of these bodies. However, it is unclear if there is a causal relationship between BlackRock’s sphere of influence and European policy outcomes, and if there is, to which extent. To quantify that, we would need full access to insider information from BlackRock, something that is beyond the scope of this paper. BlackRock’s influence, however, is undeniable.Show less
The British Conservative party’s initiation of the 2016 EU Referendum reflects a drastic change in the party’s attitude towards integration, contrasting greatly with the views it once held in 1973...Show moreThe British Conservative party’s initiation of the 2016 EU Referendum reflects a drastic change in the party’s attitude towards integration, contrasting greatly with the views it once held in 1973 when the Conservative party led the United Kingdom into the EU. Contemporary literature surrounding the growth of Euroscepticism within British political parties has largely maintained a focus on present-day and future developments, though little exploration has been conducted surrounding its historical maturation within the Conservative party, specifically asking why and how the Tories experienced a gradual shift towards an anti-integrationist attitude from the 1970s onwards. Consequently, this paper will seek to further more effectively understand why the Conservative party’s attitude towards European integration has lacked a high degree of consistency over time.Show less
The lobbying for federalism in Europe has a long history with many associated movements. One of the oldest federalist initiatives is the Paneuropean Union (PEU), formally established in 1924. A...Show moreThe lobbying for federalism in Europe has a long history with many associated movements. One of the oldest federalist initiatives is the Paneuropean Union (PEU), formally established in 1924. A later addition to the lobby movements was the Union of European Federalists (UEF), which was established in 1946. So far, no federal Europe has been established, and with recent events such as the Brexit this goal seems farther away than ever. Does this lack of success then mean a failure of the decades of federalist movements and lobbying? The PEU and UEF have been researched on three components, namely: ideology, membership and organization structure, and lastly, envisioned federal structure. Ideology-wise, the PEU and UEF had a very different base; the PEU founding ideology could be described as conservative with strong nationalistic elements, while the UEF had a background in socialism and communism, with a strong opposition towards nationalism. Research on membership also shows a large difference between the PEU and UEF. The PEU gained much attention with attracting many notable individuals in the realm of politicians, industrialists and nobility, such as Benito Mussolini and Otto von Hapsburg. The PEU’s following then was rather small and elitist. Contrary to this, the UEF had a much larger following since its inception. Lastly, on the topic of structure, both organizations remained relatively vague on the exact execution, but both agreed on sole military rights for the European federal government or a proposed economic unity. Concluding, although the direct initiatives of the federalist movements might have failed, the reasons for which they considered federalism necessary have to a large degree been successful. Not to mention, the continued attention for federalism, which has led to these movements’ being discussed decades after the factShow less
In this thesis, political theory on party discipline is used to shed light on the disunity within the British Labour Party on the European Question during 1965-1975. The managerial regime of the...Show moreIn this thesis, political theory on party discipline is used to shed light on the disunity within the British Labour Party on the European Question during 1965-1975. The managerial regime of the Whip System used to contain rebellious behavior within the MP's of the Labour Party, but was challenged by the growing amount of leftist MP's who considered the EEC too capitalistic. The management of this discord by the party top and Harold Wilson in particular is what is researched in this thesis.Show less
For a long time, Europe has played a significant part on the global development of ideology owing to its strong economy. This is no longer the case as the Chinese economy has grown rapidly since...Show moreFor a long time, Europe has played a significant part on the global development of ideology owing to its strong economy. This is no longer the case as the Chinese economy has grown rapidly since undergoing major economic reforms, to now becoming an influential actor in global economy. This thesis aims to investigate the extent in which the booming Chinese economy has impacted the ability of the EU to continue and pursue its liberal agenda. By looking at the complexity of the current global economic system, I will expose the vulnerability of EU in the face of an increasingly assertive China, particularly through the German-Sino and French-Sino relations in regards to their rhetoric on human right.Show less
