From Imperium to Union. Comparing Central Authority in the Roman Empire and the European Union.
Keywords
Loading...
Authors
Issue Date
2025-06-15
Language
en
Document type
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Title
ISSN
Volume
Issue
Startpage
Endpage
DOI
Abstract
This thesis investigates how central authority is exercised in the Roman Empire and the European Union, two historically and structurally distinct systems that nonetheless confront comparable challenges in administering large and diverse territories. Focusing on institutional structures, ideological narratives, infrastructure, and citizenship, it adopts a thematic and conceptual comparative approach to explore how authority is legitimized, projected, and maintained without enforcing complete uniformity. Drawing on primary sources and interdisciplinary scholarship, the study demonstrates that, despite their differing contexts and purposes, both systems employ overlapping strategies to ensure cohesion and compliance. The findings suggest that historical models of governance can offer valuable insights into contemporary supranational systems, challenging the idea of the EU as wholly unprecedented and highlighting its place within a longer tradition of negotiated, layered authority.
Description
Citation
Supervisor
Faculty
Faculteit der Letteren