The video discusses the democratic nature of the European Union (EU) and the influence of citizens' votes. It begins by highlighting the perception of many Europeans that their vote in EU elections doesn't count, and that the EU is not democratic. The video then delves into the concept of democracy, explaining that in democratic states, public policies are based on the will of the people. However, it points out that the people are not a coherent entity, with different groups battling for influence and power.
The video then discusses the concept of checks and balances in a working democracy, and how term limits prevent factions from dominating too much. However, it notes that these checks and balances end at national borders, with international politics not being democratic but rather anarchic.
The video then discusses the history of international politics, noting that powerful countries often took what they wanted from others, either by extortion or by violence. After World War Two, the United Nations were founded to overcome this anarchy by establishing rules on how countries should behave. However, the video notes that the UN has virtually no power and its members often have opposing interests, so it's usually politely ignored.
The video then discusses the EU, stating that it was founded to ensure peace between European nations and prosperity for the continent. It also notes that the EU is an attempt to gain international power for its members. The video then discusses the complexity of the EU and the different institutions within it, including the European Court of Justice, the European Council, the Council of the EU, the European Commission, and the European Parliament.
The video then discusses the role of citizens in the EU, stating that while citizens can vote for the European Parliament, the influence of their vote is limited. It notes that the EU Parliament can't propose new laws on its own, which is often the core of the argument that the EU is not democratic enough.
The video concludes by stating that while the EU is not as democratic as most of its member states, it is still democratic. It then discusses the struggle to make the EU more democratic and the importance of citizens deciding how the Union should develop. The video ends by emphasizing the importance of voting and caring about how political institutions change and develop, stating that the last few years have shown that extreme things can happen through elections.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The European Union (EU) is a construct that tries to have rules and laws for its member nations that are actually enforceable.
2. The EU was founded to ensure peace between European nations and prosperity for the continent.
3. The EU is also an attempt to gain international power for its members.
4. The EU has four main institutions: the European Council, the Council of the EU, the European Commission, and the European Parliament.
5. The European Parliament is the only part of the EU that is directly elected by citizens in European elections.
6. The European Commission is the de facto government of the EU, with one Commissioner for each member state.
7. The European Court of Justice is able to make binding decisions for EU member countries.
8. The EU has a system of indirect democracy, where citizens vote for national representatives who make decisions for the Union.
9. The European Parliament has become more powerful over the past two decades and has to approve new laws, vote on the EU budget, and vote on international treaties.
10. The EU Parliament officially can't propose new laws on its own, which is often seen as a limitation of its democratic power.
11. The member states' governments control the EU, but giving the Parliament more power would make the EU more democratic.
12. The EU is not as democratic as most of its member states, but it is still a democratic institution.
13. Citizens can influence the EU by voting for their national representatives and by voting directly for the European Parliament.
14. The EU is constantly changing, and citizens can shape its future by voting for politicians who vow to make the EU Parliament stronger.
15. The EU is often used as a scapegoat by politicians, who may blame the EU for rules and laws that they themselves were responsible for implementing.