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OverviewOn 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 DetailsAuthor: Andreas BielerPublisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd Imprint: Routledge Volume: No.2 Dimensions: Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 22.90cm Weight: 0.540kg ISBN: 9780415213127ISBN 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 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 Contents1. 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 projectReviewsAuthor InformationAndreas Bieler Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |