Introduction

The interesting aspect of the visionaries of European unity is that they were often the early theorists of integration as well as being intellectuals, politicians or bureaucrats. The analysis of the ideas behind European unity has been surprisingly thin in the extensive academic literature on the European Union (EU). The idealists of European unification come from a variety of traditions of European political thought. They recognised many of the traditional geographical and political patterns of national diversity in European history, while at the same time attempting to overcome their more negative aspects. The issue of European unity started as an intellectual debate, especially in the years before and after World War II. Within the Union, federalist characteristics are also evident in the direct effect of EU law and the fact of the superiority of EU law over the law of the EU member states. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.