THE HANSEAN UNION AS AN ANALOGUE TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
Abstract
The Hanseatic League, which existed from the 13th to the 17th centuries, was a unique phenomenon in medieval Europe, uniting city-states on the basis of common economic interests rather than political unity. Quickly realizing the advantages that individual industries could gain from joining forces, the Hanseatic League wasted no time in developing and establishing a commercial policy that led to a level of commercial prosperity never before seen (List, 1837, p. 19). Its functioning was based on the principles of mutual benefit, trade privileges, and collective protection, which in some ways resembles the modern European Union. The article examines the similarities between these two associations, in particular in the aspects of economic integration, freedom of trade, customs regulation, and collective decision-making mechanisms. At the same time, attention is focused on their fundamental differences, primarily in the degree of centralization and legal mechanisms of governance. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the reasons for the decline of the Hanseatic League, including the weakening of monopoly control over key trade routes, internal contradictions between the members of the union, and changes in the global economic structure. The strengthening of imperial power in Germany eventually led to the departure of many cities from the Hanseatic League – mainly Berlin and other duchies of Brandenburg – which left in the late 15th century, and by the end of the 16th century the Hanseatic League was already dying (Kouzelis, 2021, p. 192). Similar challenges can be traced in the modern European Union, which faces the problems of political fragmentation, the exit of individual states (Brexit), economic crises, and foreign policy challenges. In addition to a retrospective analysis, the article considers possible scenarios for the development of the European Union, taking into account the experience of the Hanseatic League. Will the EU be able to adapt to changes, taking into account historical lessons, or will its future repeat the fate of the Hanseatic League? An analysis of historical analogies and current trends allows us to make assumptions about potential transformations of the EU in the 21st century.
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