Теоретичне підґрунтя формування об’єднаної Європи

Abstract

The analysis of the European integration is impossible without exploring the development of the idea of uniting European peoples and the main theoretical trends that have developed over several centuries of the European history. Therefore, the study of theories and concepts of the creation of the united Europe is essential for understanding the essence of integrational processes that took place on the European continent. The article analyzes the approaches, depicted in the scientific literature, to understanding the notion of «integration», which are characterized by their diversity in defining the nature, content, mechanisms, levels of interaction of states, when along with the integral state approach, other approaches emerge to aid understanding such as institutional and managerial, sociological, systemic, functional, etc. It is determined that at the current stage of the world development, the integration of states is a worldwide trend that allows the integration associations to stand together in the conditions of intensified competition between countries. The article covers the prerequisites for European integration: historical, political, socio-economic, civilizational and cultural. Furthermore, it explores the theoretical foundations of the processes of European integration, explains the evolution of theoretical thought regarding the choice of the European integration model in different times of the European history. With regard to the nature and essence of the European integration processes, the article summarizes the theoretical studies, which can be differentiated by scope, political aspect, orientation and historical development. The characteristics of the main directions of development of key theories and concepts of the European integration are outlined as follows: federalist theory, functionalism, neo-functionalism, intergovernmentalism, etc. Attention is paid to the federalist theories of Ukrainian origin, which substantiated the possibilities of federal associations of Ukraine with other states, which could have shared common historical conditions and connections. Along with the evolution of theoretical understanding of the European integration, there have been practical attempts to translate them into European reality, which are also reflected in the article. The article concludes that the main focus of the European Union's development at the past and present stages is the optimal combination of political, economic and social progress, which is reflected in the theories of European integration. However, the integration process itself, its development, requires constant modification of existing concepts and models of the EU development based on them.