Government and Politics in Western Europe

Studying the nature of government and politics in Western Europe is a part of the comparative politics of political science studies which is relatively used in comparison with the political scenario of United Kingdom and United States of America. Western Europe refers to the collective countries that are located in the west most region of Europe which is just a context that comes with political and cultural connotations. The concept and name of Western Europe has its roots deep to the governmental, political criteria set by the world countries especially during the Cold War when non-communist countries were cornered to the region and geographical boundaries. Government lies in a collective group named Western European Union which is an international organization implementing the Treaty of Brussels which comes with a defense agreement against the countries of the region formed after Cold War.

During the period of Iron curtain fall in the year 1989, global changes became in rapid succession which led to the absorption of the German Democratic Republic into the Federal Republic of Germany that led to German Reunification. As a matter of fact, despite the resemblance in names Western Europe is completely against the Western European Union which has membership from international countries.

Government of Western Europe is run by the Union which has 10 member countries, 6 associate member countries, and 7 associate partner countries. Core activities of the union revolve around the modified Treaty of Brussels in modern day. Major members include Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom. The signatories of the Paris Agreement formed the WEU when West Germany and Italy was incorporated as one.

Objectives of the modified Brussels Treaty are to establish a firm base for European economic recovery, to alleviate and object when any one other resists policy of aggression, and to promote unity beside encouraging progressive integration of Europe. Repetitive political and cultural clashes against the Brussels Treaty lead to the formation of ‘Consultative Council’. The Western Europe’s history plays around the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation by Martin Luther King, the counter reformation, age of enlightenment, French and industrial revolution.

British and American presidents Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt along with premier of soviet union, Joseph Stalin formed the earliest stages of Western European government and its political agenda that was improvised by the Western European Union.  Eastern Europe drastically differs from Western Europe as they are intervened with the countries like United Kingdom and the U.S.

International political study has comparative politics as part of its studies and grows vast with Western European government and politics.    

Questions:       

• What is meant by the Western European Union and its objectives?
• How does the government of Western Europe function?