The mind behind the Union: philosophy and the future of EU enlargement

When we hear about the EU, the first things that come to mind are the institutions of Brussels and its economic actions. But it could be argued that the EU is more about your mindset. Although it has been portrayed as a mere economic project (‘the single market’), it is underpinned by a profound intellectual intelligence. Each wave of expansion of the Union is actually an answer to a philosophical question: “How can people with different pasts build a common future?”, and this is the question we’re going to answer today. 

Since my childhood I always wondered whether people with such different views on things and backgrounds could get along. It seemed a bit unrealistic to me. Later in life, however, I met new people, built connections and learned one key thing: no matter where you are and where you’ve been, it’s going to last if where you’re going is similar. This is where the EU’s ‘Unity in Diversity’ becomes more than a slogan, it becomes a shared ‘intellectual heritage’. 

Habermas and the power of dialogue

The centre of modern German philosopher Jurgen Habermas’ philosophy is quite simple, but it is built on two premises: communication and connection (Habermas, 1981).  Habermas argues that what ties a community together is neither power nor manipulation, it is the genuine communication people share to understand one another, if we can sit around the table, talk it all out, stay away from stereotypes – we are, therefore, a union.

As a socially active person and a YEA, I have witnessed Habermas’ theory in real life when communicating with people. When we, young people, gather together to talk about climate change or human rights, in reality we expand the intellectual borders of the Union. For Habermas, the Union is not just geographic borders, but it is the so-called Public Sphere. This, therefore, results in the Public Sphere getting richer, in new experiences and brand-new dreams. I’m more than sure you have experienced this in your own community. 

I remember sitting in a YEA workshop and I realised that one of my friend’s ‘Azerbaijani’ point of view on a problem was the missing piece for a student from another country. This was Habermas’ theory in action: our voice made the ‘Public Sphere’ richer.

Being involved and the morality of the law

Every single one of us has the need to be involved in a community. The process of expansion gives us one idea: “You are not alone or isolated.” As philosopher Hannah Arendt suggests, the biggest right is the right to have rights (Arendt, 1951). Enlargement of the Union means opening this spiritual umbrella to more people. This is not just visa freedom or economic opportunities for citizens of candidate countries; it is the recognition by an international system of the rights and dignity of the individual.

I can see this in my favorite board game: chess. There, every piece has a different move, a different “past” and a different strength, but they all operate under one set of rules to achieve a single goal. Sounds similar to what we do, does it not? My chess teacher used to tell me: always start the game and attack using all of your pieces. 

Economic justice: the people behind the numbers

My interest in economics has taught me one thing: economics is not just about the movement of money, it is a moral choice. If we combine Habermas’ philosophy with economic expansion, we will see that the goal of the Union is much deeper than building a “single market”. Rather, the goal of the single market can be considered to be the creation of a system in which resources are distributed more fairly and each member receives an equal share of development. This is what we are aiming for in the EU.

Intellectual architects of the future

I would like to conclude with the most important point. The future of the European Union depends not only on the documents signed by politicians, but on the sincere bonds that we, the youth, build with each other.

Habermas teaches us that peace and unity are a constant work in progress. We are in a constant battle to protect these values, and enlargement creates a larger space where people can debate and solve problems through dialogue rather than conflict. As young people, we are not just witnesses to this future, but also its intellectual architects and builders. Our mentoring programmes, our debate clubs, the international discussions we conduct define the future borders of the Union and have an actual impact. 

For me, the “Intelligence of the Union” is this: being able to sit at the same table, look each other in the eye, and say, “We are stronger together,” despite our differences. If we carry Habermas’s philosophy of dialogue in our hearts, the future borders of Europe will be deeper than the lines on the map, as solid as our shared values ​​and unshakable hopes and dreams.

The future of Europe is not written on paper, but in our common dialogue. Let us imagine this future together, build it together, and live it together.

Sources:

Habermas, J. (1981). The Theory of Communicative Action. Beacon Press.

Arendt, H. (1949). The Rights of Man ; What Are They?. In Modern Review, Summer 1949, p. 24-37. American Labor Conference on International Affairs.

Arendt, H. (1951). The Origins of Totalitarianism. Schocken Books.  

Rawls, J. (1971). A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press.