II. The EU: a Diverse Territory

Two types of forces at work simultaneously within the EU

A. Centripetal Forces: Unity

What do the brightest areas indicate in terms of population density/core & peripheral areas?

Satellite view of

Europe at night

1. Urban Populations

Core City: (urbanized area or urban cluster) of at least 10,000 inhabitants, containing a substantial population nucleus and having a high degree of social and economic integration with adjacent communities.

2. Cities and Major Axes in EuropeMajor European Metropolis

Global city

European Megalopolis

1st European portMajor AxisSecondary Axis

Describe the following:1.European megalopolis2.10 great metropolises which structure European space3.Major Communication Axes

The European Megalopolis1. The European megalopolis stretches from London to Milan, including the main European metropolises, organized into a conurbation: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Ruhr, Turin, Milan. The backbone is the most populated and wealthy area in Europe, with the Rhine river as a main line. Infrastructures and facilities are highly developed. 2. Although they are located on the margins of the megalopolis, cities like Paris which has the status of a Global city, but also Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Naples, Athens, and Istanbul are also major European hubs. Secondary European metropolises include Lisbon, Budapest, Vienna, Warsaw and Hamburg.3. Major communication axes include Rotterdam to Barcelona via Paris, Rotterdam to London, and Rotterdam to Milan via Frankfurt

3. Population DensityPopulation density of EU,

EFTA and candidate countries, 2007

Legend: < 50 Inhabitants per km2

50 - < 100 Inhabitants per km2

100 - < 150 Inhabitants per km2

150 - < 300 Inhabitants per km2

300 - < 1000 Inhabitants per km2

> 1000 Inhabitants per km2

no data available

European Population DensityA.Europe contains 1 of 3 population centers in

world• Characteristics: high population density

(density fades along margins, concentrated in center)• European territory highly developed even in

scarcely populated areas– urban planning– Caters to populations that live there

B. Mainly urban population 75% Europeans live in cities– Cities characterized by their organization around a

historical center – highly symbolic– 1st ideas of European unification came from cities– Based on networks of human, intellectual, &

commercial exchanges

C. Cultural Traits linked

to bioclimaticinfluences

Video: Europe, whenever

you’re ready

• Climate zones: Mediterranean, oceanic, northern, etc.

• European continent exceptionally diverse landscapes especially given its small size

(10 M km2 including European part of Russia)

• Combination of influences and specific cultural traits distinguish various regions within Europe– Mediterranean

Europe– Central Europe– Eastern Europe– Northern Europe

Northern

Mediterranean

Eastern

Central

Map of European Languages

European Religions map

Protestant

Catholic

Orthodox

Muslim

Share of Atheist Population

•What patterns can you observe?

•How can you explain these patterns?

Individualist vs. Collectivist CultureIndividualist: •individual uniqueness and self-determination are valued•admire people who are "self-made“ "makes up their own mind“, show initiative or work well independently. Collectivist: •expect people to identify with and work well in groups which protect them in exchange for loyalty and compliance.Which regions in Europe would you expect to

be individualist or collectivist?

European map of Individualist vs. Collectivist Culture

III. Disparities and Inequalities of the EU Territories

Disparities and Inequalities: Centripetal or Centrifugal forces?

A. Centrifugal Forces: Fragmentation

The EU and the Euro Crisis

• Video: Emerging Stronger from the Crisis – the European vision

1. Unemployment Rates in Europe

Source: Eurostat 2014

Female employment

rate, aged 20-64 years

Source: Eurostat, 2010

2. Uneven wage earnings

3. GDP per capita (in PPP) 2009

•Where are the richest and poorest areas in Europe? •How can you account for this wealth distribution?

Poverty Rates in the EU - 2010

Gini Index: a measure intended to represent the income distribution of a nation's residents. This is the most commonly used measure of inequality. The coefficient varies between 0, which reflects complete equality and 100 (or 1), which indicates complete inequality (one person has all the income or consumption, all others have none).

4. FEDER Regional SubsidiesEuropean regional subsidies

Wealthy regions receiving the least

Poor regions receiving the most

Homework• DBQ at home:EU Regional policies and disparities