What about the Other unions?

[United facist States of America]

Often you hear criticism of the EU but Never do you hear anything about the Others. We have the African Union where some have actually Advocated to create an african Federation. Then there is the south American Union. The Association of South East asian Nations, the Pacific Islands Forum and a few Others. NSG why do you think that These don't get so much attention as the European Union does.

[Terra Sector Union]

Euro-centric media makes the European Union look more important to the world than the others. However, I'm not sure if the African Union is really working right now. I wish Africa would one day form large, powerful sovereign unions and eliminate tribal wars for a more peaceful society.

[Genivaria]

Because the EU is most firmly integrated.
And because they're not brown.

[Faiv]

Euro-centric media makes the European Union look more important to the world than the others. However, I'm not sure if the African Union is really working right now. I wish Africa would one day form large, powerful sovereign unions and eliminate tribal wars for a more peaceful society.

Media doesn't make European Union more important. European Union is more important.

[Solorni]

The European Union is also the largest economic union in the world. In fact, as a sum of its parts it is the largest economy in the world.... bigger than the U.S.A.. The African Union is not as big and not as integrated as the European Union.

Euro-centric media makes the European Union look more important to the world than the others. However, I'm not sure if the African Union is really working right now. I wish Africa would one day form large, powerful sovereign unions and eliminate tribal wars for a more peaceful society.

It is the largest economy in the world... wouldn't that make it more important than the others?

[Genivaria]

The European Union is also the largest economic union in the world. In fact, as a sum of its parts it is the largest economy in the world.... bigger than the U.S.A.. The African Union is not as big and not as integrated as the European Union.

Euro-centric media makes the European Union look more important to the world than the others. However, I'm not sure if the African Union is really working right now. I wish Africa would one day form large, powerful sovereign unions and eliminate tribal wars for a more peaceful society.

It is the largest economy in the world... wouldn't that make it more important than the others?

So if the AU established travel visas, open borders, and internal free trade the economy would start booming?

[Kaskavia Watershed]

The European Union is also the largest economic union in the world. In fact, as a sum of its parts it is the largest economy in the world.... bigger than the U.S.A.. The African Union is not as big and not as integrated as the European Union.
It is the largest economy in the world... wouldn't that make it more important than the others?

So if the AU established travel visas, open borders, and internal free trade the economy would start booming?

Free trade of what? African countries don't produce much besides food and raw materials. Their production of the former is tragically unreliable, and the latter are pretty useless for sale to other non-industrialised nations.

[Genivaria]

Interestingly it seems the AU intends to imitate the EU's economic policies.

The AU's future goals include the creation of a free trade area, a customs union, a single market, a central bank, and a common currency (see African Monetary Union), thereby establishing economic and monetary union. The current plan is to establish an African Economic Community with a single currency by 2023.[64]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union#Economy

[European Socialist Republic]

Interestingly it seems the AU intends to imitate the EU's economic policies.

The AU's future goals include the creation of a free trade area, a customs union, a single market, a central bank, and a common currency (see African Monetary Union), thereby establishing economic and monetary union. The current plan is to establish an African Economic Community with a single currency by 2023.[64]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union#Economy

One World Order conspiracy time!

[Genivaria]

Interestingly it seems the AU intends to imitate the EU's economic policies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union#Economy

One World Order conspiracy time!

One World Government YAY!!

[Solorni]

The European Union is also the largest economic union in the world. In fact, as a sum of its parts it is the largest economy in the world.... bigger than the U.S.A.. The African Union is not as big and not as integrated as the European Union.
It is the largest economy in the world... wouldn't that make it more important than the others?

So if the AU established travel visas, open borders, and internal free trade the economy would start booming?

All I said was that the EU was the biggest. I'm not sure if it is the model to follow given all of the recent struggles. But it's difficult to judge.

[The New World Oceania]

Getting the African Union to work together is like [insert something more difficult than getting the African Union to work together].

[Genivaria]

So if the AU established travel visas, open borders, and internal free trade the economy would start booming?

All I said was that the EU was the biggest. I'm not sure if it is the model to follow given all of the recent struggles. But it's difficult to judge.

It seems to me the austerity measures are what's been causing the problems.

[Keyboard Warriors]

African nations struggle to create co-operation within their own borders let alone internationally, such is the result of colonialism and ethnic groups being divided along arbitrary lines created by European land acquisitions. Until Africa becomes a continent of stable nations, the AU will never function beyond anything more than a forum and a loose economic alliance. Hence why it isn't talked about as much as the EU; it isn't anywhere near as important.

[Faiv]

The European Union is also the largest economic union in the world. In fact, as a sum of its parts it is the largest economy in the world.... bigger than the U.S.A.. The African Union is not as big and not as integrated as the European Union.
It is the largest economy in the world... wouldn't that make it more important than the others?

So if the AU established travel visas, open borders, and internal free trade the economy would start booming?

No. But to become most important union they should have highest combined GDP.

So long EU will remain number 1 in international policies. Right now Germany alone has 50% higher GDP than African Union combined so African Union is quite irrelevant in international politics.

[Faiv]

All I said was that the EU was the biggest. I'm not sure if it is the model to follow given all of the recent struggles. But it's difficult to judge.

It seems to me the austerity measures are what's been causing the problems.

Austerity hasn't been causing problems. Problems started before austerity measures were introduced. Countries having problems did exactly the opposite to austerity measures (spent way too much money they really didn't have).

[Genivaria]

So if the AU established travel visas, open borders, and internal free trade the economy would start booming?

No. But to become most important union they should have highest combined GDP.

So long EU will remain number 1 in international policies. Right now Germany alone has 50% higher GDP than African Union combined so African Union is quite irrelevant in international politics.

Except that Africa is a great place to start investing if China's actions are anything to go by.

[Faiv]

No. But to become most important union they should have highest combined GDP.

So long EU will remain number 1 in international policies. Right now Germany alone has 50% higher GDP than African Union combined so African Union is quite irrelevant in international politics.

Except that Africa is a great place to start investing if China's actions are anything to go by.

Why would you want to invest in Africa? You never know what's going to happen tomorrow and investors don't like uncertainty. And there isn't much highly qualified workforce either.

[Genivaria]

Except that Africa is a great place to start investing if China's actions are anything to go by.

Why would you want to invest in Africa? You never know what's going to happen tomorrow and investors don't like uncertainty. And there isn't much highly qualified workforce either.

Which is why both the West and China favor stability in Africa now.
So supporting the AU is considered beneficial for all.

The vision of a self-confident, united, and capable Africa has obvious attractions on the continent. But it also appeals to Washington, which increasingly views instability and violence within Africa’s many fragile states as enabling conditions for terrorists and violent extremists

http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2014/11 ... own/99332/

[Keyboard Warriors]

Except that Africa is a great place to start investing if China's actions are anything to go by.

Why would you want to invest in Africa? You never know what's going to happen tomorrow and investors don't like uncertainty. And there isn't much highly qualified workforce either.

What's uncertain? Mineral resources aren't going to lose their value any time soon.

[United facist States of America]

What about the South american union which has the 3rd largest GDP ( PPP) and 4th largest GDP ( nominal ).

[Faiv]

Why would you want to invest in Africa? You never know what's going to happen tomorrow and investors don't like uncertainty. And there isn't much highly qualified workforce either.

What's uncertain? Mineral resources aren't going to lose their value any time soon.

You missed the point I'm afraid.

[Norstal]

African nations struggle to create co-operation within their own borders let alone internationally, such is the result of colonialism and ethnic groups being divided along arbitrary lines created by European land acquisitions. Until Africa becomes a continent of stable nations, the AU will never function beyond anything more than a forum and a loose economic alliance. Hence why it isn't talked about as much as the EU; it isn't anywhere near as important.

Are you saying the AU is a good example to be used against the EU or the other way around? Because Eurosceptics keep saying they want their sovereignty or whatever, but as far as I know, they never used the AU as an example of a failed union.

[Solorni]

What about the South american union which has the 3rd largest GDP ( PPP) and 4th largest GDP ( nominal ).

They aren't Unions in the same sense the European Union is.

It seems to me the austerity measures are what's been causing the problems.

Austerity hasn't been causing problems. Problems started before austerity measures were introduced. Countries having problems did exactly the opposite to austerity measuers (spent way too much money they really didn't have).

Austerity has been causing problems in the sense that these countries need to stimulate and grow in order to pay off their debts. But you are correct in saying that there was issues prior to this especially in countries like Italy and Greece which followed unsustainable populist policies.

[United facist States of America]

What about the South american union which has the 3rd largest GDP ( PPP) and 4th largest GDP ( nominal ).

They aren't Unions in the same sense the European Union is.

Austerity hasn't been causing problems. Problems started before austerity measures were introduced. Countries having problems did exactly the opposite to austerity measuers (spent way too much money they really didn't have).

Austerity has been causing problems in the sense that these countries need to stimulate and grow in order to pay off their debts. But you are correct in saying that there was issues prior to this especially in countries like Italy and Greece which followed unsustainable populist policies.

Actually the South american unions merged into a single union in 2008.