University:
University of Wyoming
Course:
POLS4215 | European Union
Academic year:

2023
Views:

63

Pages:

1
Author:

Allison B.

Allison Brown 4215: European Union Dr. Anderson 9 February, 2021 Reading Paper 4: “The Tragedy of Europe” Author: Winston Churchill -- Served as Prime Minister of the UK from 1940-1945, during WWII, and then later from 1951-1955. Churchill is known for his determination and perseverance to see the UK through WII, especially during the London Blitz, and his inspiring speeches that echoed his determination. Published: Churchill orally delivered the speech in person at the University of Zurich, he wrote it as well. Date: Churchill delivered the speech on September 19, 1946, at the University of Zurich. Churchill’s party, the Conservatives, met a defeat in the election. At the end of WWII, Churchill became an advocate for Franco-German reconciliation. As the leader of the opposition in the UK, he put a focus on European unification for his foreign policy. Earlier that year, on March 5, Churchill spoke in Fulton, Missouri on the necessity for the US and the UK to act as peacekeepers globally, especially against the Soviet Union, and coined the term “Iron Curtain”. In a broader context, 1946 saw a rise in optimism with the end of the “Great War”, and the United Nations was gaining prominence on the world stage and serving as an example for Churchill’s “Council of Europe”. Thesis: In order to avoid the tragedy that was WWII in Europe, the region must unify, overcome its past conflicts, and reconcile within itself in order to form a “Council of Europe”. Gist: Europe is an example of world culture, arts, and sciences, the epicenter of the world’s development, Europeans were once united in this front and global advancement, the tragedy of Europe is its fall into war. There is a remedy “if it were generally and spontaneously adopted by the great majority of people in many lands” that could restore Europe to its peaceful and prosperous state. France and Germany must make reconciliations with one another and Europe has to unite with a “Council of Europe” to recover and return to a unified continent. But, he still upholds that Germany is “guilty and must be punished” and unable to form a significant military again to avoid further conflict. Telling Examples: 1) The power of world organizations → President Truman expressed an interest and approval of a “regional organization of Europe”, and that in no way it would conflict with the United Nations. And the more of these regional and world alliances and trade deals that exist, the more prosperous and successful all nations involved will become. 2) Immediate call for unification → Churchill warns that the peace being experienced right after the war will be short-lived unless they are to start immediately on European unification and reinstating the “European Family”. Criticism: This speech is hailed by many in the social sciences as the first call for whole continent European Integration and the formation of what would come to be known as the European Union. Churchill calls for the unification of Europe with a strong speech that draws on the collective European history of WWII. His argument is convincing, that with unification Europe can not only collaborate to avoid conflict, but for the betterment of the European society as a whole.