Un model de cooperare pentru Europa Unită avant la lettre. Premisele și evoluția Micii Înțelegeri – Mircea Iliescu
The end of the First World War determined structural changes on the map of Europe, resulting from the disintegration of the Great Empires and the emergence of new state actors. A paradigm shift arrived, revolving around the liberal model, the Wilsonian vision summarized in the “14 points”, the principles, values and the democratic framework underpinning the Covenant of the League of Nations and the activity of the Geneva forum. The new model for building peace and interstate relations generated, besides clear benefits, several challenges. They were more acutely experienced by Romania and the states in Central and Eastern Europe, mainly driven to preserve the status quo, combat revisionism and build lasting alliances.
The creation of the Little Entente (1920–1921) and its evolution from a predominantly defensive structure towards an organization with federative characteristics, confirmed by the multiple innovations of the Organizational Pact (1933), provide a paradigmatic example and, from many points of view, an original and forward looking one. It foreshadows – as a possible role model, in our view – the construction of the European Communities in the 1950s and it can still act as an inspiration, especially in a complicated context, marked by numerous challenges. A particular relevance displays the organic construction, extended from the defensive core to various fields and – essential aspect – to integration of policies. This evolutive cycle includes new institutional architecture and practices, such as the rotation and consensus building.
Keywords: Europe, structural changes, Little Entente, paradigm shift, federative characteristics, integration.
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