Abstract
This book aims to historically trace Belgium's efforts to deal with and role in the integration of Europe after World War II, and to provide a detailed clarification of the origin of the European Union (EU). According to the author, most past studies seem likely to be inclined toward the role of large European countries in integrating Europe whereas the efforts of small countries like Belgium is dismissed.
This book mainly clarifies two points. Firstly, it discusses the origin of the EU. Further, it examines the efforts at economic cooperation undertaken by the Benelux, such as that exemplified by the Ouchy Convention (1932) and Customs Union (1948), and proves that it was such instances of cooperation that eventually paved the way for the European Economic Community (EEC). The Benelux took up the initiative to successfully build a unified European nation on the basis of their past experience. While the Schuman Plan (1950) is conventionally considered to be the origin of EU in terms of supra-nationalism, the Beyen Plan, which eventually lead to the founding of the EEC, also played an important role in the origin of EU in terms of inter-governmentalism. Secondly, this book clarifies the role of the small country in the European integration. While it is true that large countries such as Germany and France have led the integration, the author believes that the role of the small countries should not be overlooked. In fact, at present, EU consists of many small member states.
The author, the first historiographer to study the integration of Europe in Japan, makes a contribution to European integration historical studies by publishing a single work that uses primary materials. I think that the author's focus on Belgium is crucial because there are not many such studies even in Europe. Further, with this work, I expect that such historiographical analyses will continue to progress in Japan.
