Pre-Class- The Evolution of Authority

The McNamara article raises some interesting questions about the construction of legitimate political authority.  Although she does a nice review of the development of the EU and the "post-modern" development of international authority beyond the Nation-State, it still seems to come down to Wendt's "Anarchy is what states make of it".  Maybe even further back to Hobbes. In the "pre-modern" individuals gave up sovereignty to the Leviathan for protection from anarchy.  In the "post-modern" Nation-States decided that hard-shelled autonomy was really not that great. (See WWII)

Where modern industrialization created the need for strong nationalism and ethno-linguistic definitions of citizenship, the post-industrialized European economy requires a new perspective on citizenship. (Even though the EU stems from an agreement on coal and steel)  As McNamara rightfully points out, EU citizenship may still be an elite project.  However, as citizens of nation-states see the benefits of EU citizenship they may be willing to engage in some of that "banal" authority.

One more thing.  McNamara defines post-modern as including a rejection of any "meta-narrative".  I don't disagree with the definition but I disagree that the EU is not part of a meta-narrative.  If we apply the concept and even rules of biological evolution to politics it is possible to see an emerging narrative.  It might not be predictable but we can put a story (a narrative) to it.  As long as I am on the point, I would change "banal" authority to benign authority.  Europeans understand better than most the dangers of malignant nationalism.  A little banal authority is just the prescription for the last century.