The velocity of integration

Summary Throughout history small territories were integrated into larger units. Sometimes disintegration occurred. A quantitative characteristic of this process is its velocity,i.e. the reductionr of independent territories per annum or the growthg of the number of members of a larger unit. These figures were measured for France, Switzerland, Europe 1500-1900 and for the Western European integration. Velocities vary between 1.0002 and 1.0676. Variations can be partly explained, but require further explanation. Velocities may be used to estimate the time needed for the acceptance of additional members, the completion of European integration and world integration.The author wants to thank Professor S. K. Kuipers for several comments on an earlier version of this article.