Globalisation and Enlargement of the European Union: Austrian and Swedish Social Forces in the Struggle over Membership

Author:   Andreas Bieler
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Volume:   No.2
ISBN:  

9780415213127


Pages:   208
Publication Date:   18 May 2000
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Our Price $284.00 Quantity:  
Add to Cart

Share |

Globalisation and Enlargement of the European Union: Austrian and Swedish Social Forces in the Struggle over Membership


Add your own review!

Overview

On January 1 1995, Austria and Sweden joined the European Union (EU). This book analyzes why these two countries joined at such a moment when in fact the EU's development towards a neo-liberal economic policy - embodied in the Internal Market and the convergence criteria of Economic and Monetary Union - endangered their traditional Keynesian economic policy making, and at a time when the steps towards a Common Foreign and Security Policy threatened their neutrality. The processes leading to Austria and Sweden's accession need to be examined against the structural background of globalisation, which is characterised by the transnationalisation of production and finance, and a shift from neo-Keynesianism to neo-liberalism. Andreas Bieler argues that conventional neo-functionalist and intergovernmentalist theories fail to explain structural change such as this because they take existing power structures as given. Therefore, he develops a neo-Gramscian perspective as an alternative approach to European integration. This book reveals that alliances of internationally oriented, transnational social forces of capital and labour, supported by institutions linked to the global economy such as the Finance Ministries, were behind the drive to the EU. Resistance, by national capital and labour, as well as Green and left-wing politics in both countries, could not prevent membership. Also, certain internal structural changes in these countries - Gorbachev's liberal foreign policy for example - allowed pro-EU forces in both countries to redefine neutrality making it compatible with membership. This original study is a key up-to-date analysis which will be essential reading for researchers in onternational relations, international political economy, and European politics in general.

Full Product Details

Author:   Andreas Bieler
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Volume:   No.2
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.540kg
ISBN:  

9780415213127


ISBN 10:   0415213126
Pages:   208
Publication Date:   18 May 2000
Audience:   College/higher education ,  General/trade ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: theories of integration and Austria's and Sweden's accession to the European Union - a critique and alternativeSome limitations of integration theories A neo-Gramscian alternative2. Austria and Sweden in an era of global structural changeThe processes of globalisation The post-war economic and political systems in Austria and Sweden The impact of the processes of globalisation on Austria and SwedenGlobalisation and the configuration of social forces in Austria and Sweden3. Social forces and the struggle for application in Austria and SwedenThe struggle over the Austrian application to the EUSweden and social democratic hegemony: the struggle postponed4. The conflict over the EU referenda in Austria and SwedenFrom the EEA via Maastricht and membership negotiations to the referenda The referendum struggle in Austria A debate at last: social forces mobilise in Sweden 5. Austria's and Sweden's accession to the EU and the changing security structureNeo-realism, neutral states and the end of the Cold War Austria: the silent redefinition of neutrality Sweden: neutrality redefined as non-alignment 6. The future enlargement of the EU towards Central and Eastern EuropeA neo-Gramscian perspective on future EU enlargments Globalisation and the transformation of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the question of EU membership 7. Conclusions: globalisation, EU enlargement and the limits of neo-liberalismA neo-Gramscian perspective as an alternative approach to European integration Social Forces behind the Austrian and Swedish accession to the EU The possibilities for a counter neo-liberal project

Reviews

Author Information

Andreas Bieler

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions
Latest Reading Guide

lgn

al

Shopping Cart
Your cart is empty
Shopping cart
Mailing List