The European Union as a Social Experiment

The European Union is often studied for its economics, but it is also an experiment in building shared identity among nations that fought devastating wars. The 1992 Maastricht Treaty created EU citizenship, giving citizens of member states the right to live, work and vote in local elections in other member states. The Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985 and implemented from 1995, removed routine border checks among participating countries.

Cultural programmes such as the European Capital of Culture, begun in 1985 with Athens, and the Erasmus exchange scheme aimed to make Europe a lived experience. Supporters see the EU as a remarkable achievement of peace and cooperation; the EU received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012. Critics, often called Eurosceptics, argue it weakens national sovereignty and democratic accountability. In 2016 UK voters chose to leave, and the UK departed in 2020, showing that regional integration can also reverse.