The United States of Europe is a name often given to one version of the possible future unification of Europe as a national and sovereign federation of states similar in formation to the United States of America. An alternative version of unification by a confederacy of sovereign states has been given the name United Europe. Sometimes reports use these names interchangeably without qualification, while discussing unification as an objective rather than the purpose of achieving unification.

Origin of name

The term 'United States of Europe' (États-Unis d’Europe) was used several times by Victor Hugo, including during a speech at the International Peace Congress held in Paris in 1849 and later at the French National Assembly, on March 1, 1871. It was also the title of a 1931 book by the French politician Edouard Herriot.

Interpretation of European unification

The phrase "United States of Europe" usually identifies a federation. Advocates of a federal system of government similar to that of the United States of America where power is drawn from member states to a central governing authority. Historically, France has been a strong advocate of this form of government in order to maintain independence from the financial and military strengths of the USA and the now defunct USSR.

The alternative viewpoint of European unification has been to push for a European Union as a financial trading confederation in the form of a United Europe. This approach has been supported by both the USA and United Kingdom.

Winston Churchill

The term "United States of Europe" was used by Winston Churchill in a famous speech which he delivered in 1946 at the University of Zurich. This speech is frequently credited with beginning the process that led to the formation of the European Union.

Chronology of unification

A chronology of attempts to unify Europe are contained within the article: History of the European Union.

Herbert W. Armstrong

During World War II Herbert W. Armstrong had predicted that according to Bible prophecy, Nazi Europe would emerge as the victor. When it became obvious that the Allies would win, he immediately began predicting that a new United States of Europe led by Germany would subsequently commence a World War III against both the USA and UK and this time it would emerge as the victor. Following WWII these prophetic claims were published in a 1956 booklet called 1975 in Prophecy! [1]. This same publication also predicted that if Britain joined the USE, that it would also drop out of it. Between 1964 until August of 1967 this message was also heard up to three times a day in the UK on The World Tomorrow program with Garner Ted Armstrong. It was broadcast from several offshore pirate radio stations that ringed the coastline of the British Isles and was heard over much of Europe.

Franz Josef Strauß

The focus of interest by Herbert W. Armstrong eventually became the career of German politician Franz Josef Strauß following the Der Spiegel scandal. Strauß also became the author of a book titled The Grand Design, in which Strauß set forth his views of the future of Europe. Armstrong originally portrayed Strauss as the future dictator who would lead the future United States of Europe. Strauss seemed to play along with this portrayal by becoming a guest of Armstrong in 1971 in his home and at his Ambassador College campus in Pasadena, California where he even agreed to appear on The World Tomorrow television program. According to a document written by Armstrong in 1983, he became lasting friends with Strauss, but he could not understand why Strauss had returned the friendship.

Reference

• Franz Josef Strauß. The Grand Design: A European solution to German reunification. English translation: London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson , 1965.

See also

• European integration
• Euroscepticism
• Pro-European
• Winston Churchill
• Franz Josef Strauss
• Herbert W. Armstrong

External links

• Franz Josef Strauss and Herbert W. Armstrong by J. Orlin Grabbe.
• Political speeches by Victor Hugo: Victor Hugo, My Revenge is Fraternity!, where the term United States of Europe was first used