The Schuman Plan: Vision, Power and Persuasion
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The Schuman Plan: Vision, Power and Persuasion by Constantin Chira-Pascanut B.A., University Al. I. Cuza Iasi, Romania, 2000 B.A., European University Dragan, Brasov, Romania, 2004 M.A., University of Victoria, BC, Canada, 2005 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the Department of History Constantin Chira-Pascanut, 2012 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This dissertation may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. ii Supervisory Committee The Schuman Plan: Vision, Power and Persuasion by Constantin Chira-Pascanut B.A., University Al. I. Cuza Iasi, Romania, 2000 B.A., European University Dragan, Brasov, Romania, 2004 M.A., University of Victoria, BC, Canada, 2005 Supervisory Committee Dr. Oliver Schmidtke (Department of History) Supervisor Dr. Serhy Yekelchyk (Department of History) Departmental Member Dr. Amy Verdun (Department of Political Science) Outside Member iii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr. Oliver Schmidtke (Department of History) Supervisor Dr. Serhy Yekelchyk (Department of History) Departmental Member Dr. Amy Verdun (Department of Political Science) Outside Member The origins of European integration and the factors that made it possible in the post-1945 era have been examined from different perspectives and interpreted in various ways. While federalists argue that the concept of European unity had been developed over centuries by different intellectual movements, the realist approaches of Milward and Dinan stress the importance of economic, political and security motives. Referring to the factors that contributed to the implementation of the Schuman Plan, both the federalist and realist approaches highlight the chief importance of states and their representatives. Yet, the ideas that inspired Jean Monnet, who designed the Schuman Plan, have received little attention. While the state is seen in the literature as the main actor that made the outcome possible, the role of Monnet and that of some of his close associates are almost ignored. By investigating Monnet's thought, this study shows that the source of his inspiration was not the countless plans for European unity put forward by European federalist movements or the random concepts that he came across, such as the New Deal. Rather, it is argued here that he was in fact constantly exposed to a coherent and well-structured philosophy. This thinking reached him through his direct contacts and frequent encounters with Felix Frankfurter and his associates, who formed an epistemic community, as defined by Peter M. Haas. The core concepts of this thinking inherited from Louis Brandeis and developed by Frankfurter – restoring and overseeing free competition – can be identified in Monnet's 1950 plan. The evidence shows that it became a shared philosophy of Monnet's group of friends. This is a fundamental aspect since, once the Schuman Plan was made public, Monnet's friends rallied around his project and contributed not only to overcoming stalemate at critical moments of the negotiations on the future treaty, but also to convincing statesmen of the value of the project. iv Table of contents Supervisory Committee ...................................................................................................ii Abstract ......................................................................................................................... iii Table of contents ............................................................................................................ iv Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. vi Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................viii Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: The Historiography of early European Integration ........................................ 12 1.1. The Origins of European Integration: State of the Art ...................................... 12 1.1.1. The Federalist View ................................................................................. 13 1.1.2. An Economic View .................................................................................. 19 1.1.3. A Geopolitical View................................................................................. 22 1.2. The Origins of European Integration: An Alternative Approach ...................... 25 1.2.1. The Origins of the Schuman Plan: A Critical View................................... 26 1.2.2. State-Centric Views ................................................................................. 29 1.3. An Alternative to the State-Centric Approach .................................................. 31 Chapter 2: Monnet’s Transatlantic Group of Friends ..................................................... 36 2.1. Building Invisible Bridges across the Atlantic: Monnet and his Transatlantic Group of Friends ....................................................................................................... 42 2.1.1. Felix Frankfurter: A Door-Opener for Monnet ............................................. 43 2.1.2. John J. McCloy and Monnet: “Amicu certus in re incerta cernitur” .............. 46 2.1.3. Dean Acheson .............................................................................................. 48 2.1.4. David E. Lilienthal ....................................................................................... 50 2.1.5. George W. Ball ............................................................................................ 53 2.2. A Transatlantic Group of Friends of Shared Traits .............................................. 55 2.3. Conclusion: Monnet’s US Friends ...................................................................... 66 Chapter 3: A Process of Learning: The Formulation of Common Beliefs ....................... 68 3.1. Shaping Monnet’s Worldview: Transnational Encounters and Exchange of Ideas68 3.2. The Frankfurter-Brandeis Philosophy: A Shared Thinking of Monnet’s Group of Friends ...................................................................................................................... 70 3.2.1. A New Economic Vision .............................................................................. 70 3.2.2. Frankfurter-Brandeis Philosophy in Practice ................................................ 72 3.2.3. The Frankfurter-Brandeis Thought: Shaping Monnet’s Thinking .................. 77 3.3. Monnet Applies his Knowledge: Decentralizing, Restoring and Supervising Competition ............................................................................................................... 80 3.3.1. Taking Apart Big Business ........................................................................... 83 3.3.2. The High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community: Guaranteeing Fair Economic Practices ................................................................... 94 3.4. Conclusion: Monnet’s Thinking and the Origins of the Schuman Plan ................ 99 Chapter 4: Monnet and Policymakers: Convincing People in Power ............................ 102 4.1. Conveying the Idea to Policymakers ................................................................. 103 4.2. The Prevailing Link: Monnet and the Second Tier ............................................ 112 4.2.1. Selling the Lend-Lease Programme to Roosevelt........................................ 112 4.2.2. Persuading Schuman: A Plan for a Place in History.................................... 118 v 4.3. Conclusion: Monnet’s Sharp Method of Persuasion .......................................... 122 Chapter 5: Shaping the Interests of the States Participating in the Negotiation Process 123 5.1. From In Principle Acceptance to Contentious Interests ..................................... 124 5.1.1. Acceptance in Principle .............................................................................. 124 5.1.2. Adjusting Opinions .................................................................................... 128 5.1.2.1. The Institutional Matters: The Supranational versus Intergovernmental Visions ............................................................................................................ 128 5.1.2.2. Economic Matters: Antitrust and Restoring Competition ..................... 136 5.2. Convincing Policymakers ................................................................................. 145 5.2.1. Monnet and his Associates Facing the Intergovernmental Challenge .......... 146 5.2.2. The Big Business: Conflicting Visions ....................................................... 150 5.3. Conclusion: Monnet and his Group of Friends following-up on the Schuman Plan ................................................................................................................................ 163 Chapter 6: Shaping the Interests of Major International Actors: Britain and the US ..... 166 6.1. Steering Britain’s Attitude in the Desired Direction .......................................... 167 6.1.1. Britain’s Eagerness to Undermine the Schuman Plan ................................. 168 6.1.2. Ensuring a Positive British Reply ............................................................... 169 6.2. US Administration: Taking on board Monnet’s