The Treaty of Rome and Peacemaking in Europe

Abstract

This paper attempts to expose links between regional economic integration, and its relationships with prosperity and peacebuilding. This is accomplished through analyzation of the Rome Treaty, a 1957 multilateral agreement establishing a common market between six Western European countries. Since its signing, a dramatic deviation has ensued within the continent, marking a shift from cutthroat economic competition and war, to increased living standards, cooperation and peace. In deconstructing these effects, core elements of the treaty are divulged. Additionally, its perceptions, characterizing a spectrum of discomfort and optimism, are considered. Finally, the long-term outcomes of the creaty are analyzed through secondary material.