Research Paper on political unity and differentiation

Thsi research paper will analyze and address the conditions under which political unity can be guaranteed while at the same time constitutional diversity within a sui generis system can be safeguarded The respective research question is how much differentiation is requested in order to allow for the development into a political community based on shared rights and obligations of membership Lord 2015 784 In a first step the analysis will highlight the differences between the political system political cultures and traditions social cleavages territoriality socioeconomic factors and demographic patterns in the EU Burgess 1993 1999 This would also include an assessment of the issue of the deteriorating rule of law situation in Hungary and Poland In a second step this task assesses in how far forms of political differentiation have changed the narrative of political unity The European Council for instance clearly refers to this option in its Conclusions of February 2015 for the first time Additionally what role do increasing nationalist backlashes and Eurosceptic trends as well as issues of politicization in Member States play In a third step the task will identify the conditions and forms of political differentiation that would facilitate deepening allow for widening and prevent or trigger respectively disintegration