1st Edition

The EU Economic and Social Model in the Global Crisis Interdisciplinary Perspectives

By Dagmar Schiek Copyright 2013
    224 Pages
    by Routledge

    224 Pages
    by Routledge

    This book addresses the viability of the EU economic and social model within and after the global economic crisis. It identifies four key issues which warrant further discussion: (1) the asymmetry of the legal and policy framework of the euro and potential recalibration; (2) substantive tensions between the EU ’economic constitution’ and its normative aim of social justice and impacts on national policy; (3) the role of civil society, including the two sides of industry in overcoming these tensions; and (4) the EU’s global aspirations towards the creation of a viable socio-economic model. Its chapters offer two perspectives on each of the four main issues. In drawing these debates together, the book provides a broad understanding as well as starting points for future research. Bringing together different disciplinary approaches, ranging from legal studies to political economy, sociology and macroeconomics, it is a valuable contribution to the debate on the European social model and introduces new insights by focusing on legal and political tensions, the impact of the financial crisis and other economic contexts as well as global dimensions.

    Chapter 1 The EU's Socio-economic Model(s) and the Crisi(e)s '“ any Perspectives?, Dagmar Schiek; Chapter 2 The Dysfunctional Nature of the Economic and Monetary Union, Philip Arestis, Giuseppe Fontana, Malcolm Sawyer; Chapter 3 The European Currency in Turbulent Times '“ Austerity Policy Made in Brussels the Only Way Out?, Amy Verdun; Chapter 4 The Contested Scope of Labour Law Requirements in Public Procurement '“ a Multi-Level Analysis, Julia Vinterskog; Chapter 5 From Safety Nets and Carrots to Trampolines and Sticks: National Use of the EU as both Menace and Model to Help Neoliberalize Welfare Policy, Charlotte O'Brien; Chapter 6 Empowering Consumer-Citizens: Changing Rights or Merely Discourse?, Katalin Cseres, Annette Schrauwen; Chapter 7 The Politics of Inclusion: Comparing the Contribution of Civil Society Actors to EU Legitimacy, Petra Guasti; Chapter 8 EU Internal and External Social Policy in Times of Global Crisis, Rebecca Zahn; Chapter 9 The EU as a 'Virtuous International Actor': Human Rights Indicators and Global Governmentality, Bal Sokhi-Bulley;

    Biography

    Professor Dagmar Schiek is Jean Monnet ad personam Chair (EU Law & Policy), School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast, UK. She has been a visiting professor and guest lecturer at various universities, including London School of Economics and Maastricht University. Her research interests lie in the field of European Economic and Social constitutionalism, new forms of governance in the EU involving civil society and European and international equality law. Her recent book publications include European Economic and Social Constitutionalism after the Treaty of Lisbon (Schiek, Liebert & Schneider eds, Cambridge University Press October 2011) and Economic and Social Integration: The Challenge for EU Constitutional Law, (Schiek, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar 2012). She is a member of the IUS COMMUNE research school (founded by the Universities of Utrecht, Leiden, Amsterdam, Maastricht and Rotterdam) and on the editorial board of the Maastricht Journal for Comparative and European Law and of Kritische Justiz (Critical Legal Studies, Germany).

    ’The global economic crisis and the Euro crisis have shattered the foundations of the EU. The contributions in this book seek ways out of the economic bias which is inbuilt into the Treaties, so as to re-invigorate the often debated but still neglected social model of the EU. A must read.’ Hans Micklitz, European University Institute, Italy ’This book is a thorough and competent analysis of the multi-faceted set of crises currently facing Europe and will be valuable to anyone interested in understanding the EU. It provides an excellent insight into the underlying ideologies, important trends, central concepts and main challenges facing the EU and explores the Economic and Monetary Union from an interdisciplinary perspective.’ Ulla Neergaard, University of Copenhagen, Denmark