18 named examples with their significance, drawn from the Panther database. Read them, then test yourself.
In test mode, tap an example to reveal why it matters.
The examples
AUKUS Pact (2021): Indo-Pacific Security and Regional Alliances(2021-present)(tap to reveal)- AUKUS is a September 2021 Australia-UK-US security pact, centred on supplying nuclear-powered submarines to Australia and countering Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Brexit and the Limits of European Regionalism (2016-20)(2021)(tap to reveal)- Only state to leave EU. 52-48% vote. Trade disruption post-2021. Shows sovereignty concerns can override economic integration. Tests whether regional blocs are truly supranational or intergovernmental in nature.
Brexit referendum 2016(tap to reveal)- In June 2016, 51.9% of UK voters chose to leave the European Union, triggering Article 50 and years of withdrawal negotiations.
Brexit: UK Withdrawal from EU (2016 referendum, 2020 departure)(tap to reveal)- UK voted to leave EU in 2016 referendum (52-48%) and formally left in January 2020. Second largest economy at time; significant economic blow to EU.
Bulgaria and Romania EU Accession Delays (2007, work rights delayed to 2014)(tap to reveal)- Bulgaria and Romania joined EU 2007 but right to work in other member states delayed until 2014 (Germany, France, UK). Shows resistance to migration from poorer members.
ECSC Formation (1952)(tap to reveal)- European Coal and Steel Community formed 1952 with 6 founding members (Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands). First step toward European integration.
EU Eastern Expansion: 2004 Enlargement(tap to reveal)- Ten states joined EU in 2004: eight former Soviet bloc states (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia) plus Cyprus and Malta. Largest EU expansion.
EU Treaty of Rome (1957)(tap to reveal)- Treaty establishing European Economic Community. Founding treaty of what became EU.
EU response to Russia-Ukraine war(tap to reveal)- Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia and provided substantial financial and military support to Ukraine.
Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and Hard Power vs Soft Power (2025-26)(2025)(tap to reveal)- Trump hard power approach to Iran/Hormuz 2025-26 has failed to reopen strait; contrasts with Obama soft power JCPOA
Maastricht Treaty (1992)(tap to reveal)- Transformed European Community into European Union. Established framework for monetary union (Euro) and political integration.
Maastricht Treaty (1992)(tap to reveal)- The 1992 Maastricht Treaty created the European Union, established the euro and introduced EU citizenship and the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
NAFTA to USMCA Transformation (1994-2020)(tap to reveal)- North American Free Trade Association (1994) transformed into United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (2020). Shows regional trade evolution.
Serbia-Kosovo Ohrid Agreement (2023)(tap to reveal)- EU facilitated dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, culminating in Ohrid Agreement (2023) to normalize relations between former conflict states.
The EU as Benchmark Regional Organisation: Integration Depth and Institutional Strength(1957)(tap to reveal)- The EU has: a directly elected Parliament (since 1979); a Commission with exclusive right of legislative initiative; a Court of Justice whose rulings take precedence over national law; a single market with free movement of goods, services, capital and people; a single currency (Eurozone, 20 member states); binding qualified majority voting in the Council; and treaty obligations enforced by the ECJ. 27 member states. African Union (55 members) has political ambitions but limited enforcement capacity and relies on voluntary compliance. USMCA (US-Mexico-Canada, replacing NAFTA) is a trade agreement without supranational institutions - now under strain from US tariff policy. Arab League is fragmented and decisions are not binding.
Treaty of Lisbon (2009)(tap to reveal)- Expanded qualified majority voting (QMV) to more areas, increasing supranational decision-making and reducing individual member state veto power.
Bosnia/Srebrenica: Failure of Humanitarian Intervention (1995)(tap to reveal)- UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) was deployed in Bosnia but given a weak mandate: protect aid convoys, not civilians. In July 1995, Serb forces captured the UN safe area of Srebrenica and massacred approximately 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II. UN forces stood by. NATO eventually intervened with airstrikes and the Dayton Agreement ended the conflict.
Myanmar coup (2021)(tap to reveal)- Myanmar's military seized power on 1 February 2021, overthrowing the elected government and violently suppressing protests, killing thousands.