*** FERRAN REQUEJO: Fédéralisme multinational et pluralisme de valeurs. Le cas espagnol. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes / Peter Lang (1 av. Maurice, B-1050 Brussels. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - fax: 3761727 - Email: pie@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). “Diversitas” series, No. 4. 2009, 199 pp, €27.90. ISBN 978-90-5201-572-9.
Does federalism allow multinational societies to express their objectives realistically and more fairly through updated political structures? Ferran Requejo, professor of political science at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona seeks to provide insightful answers to this apparently simple question. This book initially appeared in Catalan (Federalisme plurinacional i Estat de les Autonomies, Proa) and then in a slightly amended English version (Multinational Federalism and Value Pluralism, Routledge). In these two other language versions, the book first of all received the Ramon Trias Fargas Prize, then the 2006 prize, awarded by the Spanish Political Science Association. This dual recognition is not, however, expected to open the doors to a mass readership because it has to be said that scientific prose only provides clarification to those with a broad knowledge of the subject, which is blatantly obvious in this case …
In this book, the author examines certain theoretical aspects in the relationship between political liberalism and multinational democracies and subsequently develops an eminently theoretical and partly philosophical approach. After his presentation of the general theme of democracy in multinational contexts, as well as the “pluralism of values” approach, as advocated by Isaiah Berlin as the moral ontology of liberalism, he seeks to analyse the political legitimacy of these kinds of democracy, on the basis of a range of different elements: the pluralism norm in democracies, currently the two main liberal points of view on national and cultural pluralism, the relationship between universalism and specific characteristics in the process of political legitimisation. The author punctuates this dense but erudite study with a commentary on the approaches put forward by Rawls and Habermas rearding national pluralism. He also provides a defence of some of the elements in Kantian philosophy, within the perspective of the pluralism of values. In the second part of the book, Ferran Requejo demonstrates that federalism could be a possible way forward for accommodating societies that are pluralistic from a national point of view. He begins with an analysis of federalism and the fundamental kinds of federal agreements, as well as some of the federal weaknesses and paradoxes in current federations, before introducing the model of, “multinational federalism” as an alternative to accommodating multinational societies within a federal and rejuvenated democratic-liberal perspective. He also dedicates a number of paragraphs to the principle of subsidiarity, a concept promoted by the European Union and which is often incorrectly associated with federalism because, according to the author, “subsidiarity can provoke the erosion of the federal principle”. In the third part of the book, the author ultimately proceeds to a critical analysis of the current situation in the autonomous regions of Spain, which is becoming a kind of practical example of the normative and institutional weaknesses in multinational democracies, for which he provided a theoretical description earlier in the book. This chapter also enables the author to outline a comparison between other federations and regional states, as well as possible development scenarios.
The only part of this book, which is hitherto unpublished, takes the form of the final commentary and is written in the form of an essay. Certain people will definitely find it astonishing. Ferran Requejo bases his analysis on certain elements related to genetics and current palaeontology, in an effort to identify the reasons that sometimes lead human beings towards madness or a kind of political blindness when they attempt to pursue reflection as members of a “specific” group, even if they use concepts, values and a so-called “universal” language. The title of this chapter, “A Federalism for Primates … that strive not to be so”, translates the cold pessimism - or realism, according to which - this political scientist considers that, “nationalism and states, whether we want them or not, will be part of future policy for quite a long time to come”. The author adds that, “this will also be the case in the context of international policy, multinational federations or situations involving structures like the European Union. Whether we want it or not, for the time being, a post-national situation does not exist”.
Michel Theys
*** CHRISTOPHE DE VOOGD: Pays-Bas: la tentation populiste. Fondation pour l'innovation politique (Fondapol, 11 rue de Grenelle, F-75007 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 47536700 - fax: 44183765 - E-mail: contact@fondapol.org - Internet: http://www.fondapol.org ). "Valeurs" series. 2009, 44 pp, €3. ISBN 978-2-917613-46-7.
Edited by Professor Dominique Reynié from the Fondation pour l'innovation politique - which has declared that it intends to make a contribution to the political debates from a liberal, progressive and European perspective. This book does in fact render the public a service by publishing a number of notes that provide an exact and scientifically reliable insight into a Union member country on the eve of the elections. It fills an obvious gap that is, unfortunately, too often ignored by the general press, apart from a few rare exceptions. After the United Kingdom (see Bibliothèque européenne No. 10126/868 on 27 April 27 2010), it is now the turn of the Netherlands, which, on this occasion was “sounded out” by this university lecturer in political science, on the eve of the general elections on 9 June. In fewer than 40 pages, he provides both a gripping and instructive description of the different reasons that led to a complete change in how this country was perceived abroad in the space of just a few years. The Dutch laboratory of “anything goes tolerance” is now overtly flirting with the demons of populism and turning inwards with regard to its national identity. At an economic level, although the “dyke is bursting it is not breaking”, there is a huge temptation to rebuild the dykes in a country confronting a threefold structural challenge: the survival of the welfare state in the context of a globalised world and an ageing population, integration of foreign minorities, often from different cultures and religions (“the immigrant population will become the majority in the three main cities in the country in the 2020s”, underlines the author) and the redefinition of the role of the nation in an enlarged Europe. In connection with this last point, Christophe De Voogd emphasises that the United Nations has more support from Dutch citizens than the European Union, “a sign of their idiosyncratic orientation towards the world at large rather than towards the Europe of the ancient parapets”, a nation which now appears to have “no emotional regard” for European construction and which, “is now clearly excluding all federal political goals”. This book provides both balance and clarification!
(MT)
*** The Federalist Debate. Papers on Federalism in Europe and the World. Einstein Center for International Studies (26 via Schina, I-10144 Torino. Tel/fax: (+39-011) 4732843 - E-mail: federalist.debate@libero.it - Internet: http://www.federalist.debate.org ). 2010, No.1, p 64: €15.
This issue in this well-known federalist publication kicks off with an editorial in which Lucio Levi makes a passionate appeal for a, “new architecture for international organisations”. The starting point is the decline of the major powers based on the Westphalia model. He considers that the World Trade Organisation and the International Criminal Court are the, “harbingers of a new historical epoch”, which will be based on respect for international law. In his eyes, the G20 represents another positive step in the direction of a reorganisation of relationships between the global powers. He believes that this new international organisation should be based on the model developed by the European Union, with binding powers that can even restrict the, “hegemonic ambitions of the strongest member states”. In one contribution focusing on the Copenhagen climate fiasco, which led to an, “additional loss of credibility for the United Nations and an affront to their secretary-general”, Roberto Palea suggests that tackling this challenge should be based on the previous European Community of Coal and Steel, which was both able to take decisions and apply them. Other contributions focus on the necessity of providing the Union with an economic recovery plan based on obligations, creating a single international currency and special drawing rights, which could in this capcity play the role assumed by the Ecu, whilst waiting for the Euro to be introduced. Olivier Ferrand calls for the European Commission to be transformed into a, “genuine political government” based on future European election results.
(MT)
*** Confrontations Europe (227 bld. Saint-Germain, F-75007 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 43173283 - fax: 45561886 - Email: confrontations@wanadoo.fr - Internet: http://www.confrontations.org ). April-June 2010, No. 90, 48 pp, €7.
This publication is very dear to the heart of Philippe Herzog MEP and has gradually managed to assert itself as a crucial quarterly read. It seeks to provide a greater understanding of the European stakes play, particularly with regard to economic and social challenges. In this issue, many of the different contributions focus on a different aspects of the monetary, financial and economic crisis. The main dossier in this edition is both comprehensive and of a very high quality. It specifically focuses on the general decline in public finances in Europe and the Community budget problem. In the dossier, Alain Lamassoure MEP suggests that a common meeting should be organised annually for the 27 national parliamentary budget committees, together with the European Parliament, so that they can hold a comprehensive debate on budgetary orientations and the very content of the budgets. Professor Le Cacheux (Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour), however, puts forward a number of ideas for, “re-establishing the European budget”.
(MT)
*** Eyes on Europe. La gestion de crise par l'Union Européenne. ASBL Eyes Europe (c/o Institut d'Études Européennes, 39 av. Franklin Roosevelt, B-1050 Brussels. Email: eyesoneurope@gmail.com - Internet: http://www.eyesoneurope.eu ). 2009, No.11, 80 pp., €4.
Managed, edited and published by a collective of PhD students at the European Study Institute at the Free University of Brussels, this multilingual half-yearly review, even contains a contribution in Turkish and certainly does provide an original insight into European affairs. It is a serious academic publication (with University lecturers and other teachers contributing to this edition) but also contains youthful passion. The main dossier is of an extremely high quality and focuses on the complex problem of Europe's borders. The vice president of the European Parliament, Isabelle Durant, also makes an appeal in the editorial for the borders between Brussels and its European “ghetto” to be dismantled.
(MT)
*** PETRA PFISTERER: Kommunale Selbstverwaltung und Lokale Governance vor dem Hintergrund des europaïschen Integrationprozesses. Peter Lang (1 Moosstrasse, Postfach 350, CH-2542 Pieterlen. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - fax: 3761727 - Email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). “ Speyerer schriften zur vervaltungswissenschaft” series, No. 8. 2009, 455 pp., €80. ISBN 978-3-631-59100-0.
This book focuses on local level governance and how this phenomenon has developed through history. Petra Pfisterer seeks to define the challenges that have had to be met by local bodies following the process of European integration. Governance is analysed from a multi-disciplinary angle and through its vertical dynamic - vis-à-vis state authority - as well as its horizontal dynamic - vis-à-vis other local bodies. The impact of governance at a local level in current visions of democracy and what stems from it is explored within the perspective of inter-personal solidarity and is the subject of specific analysis by the author. Following a very comprehensive introduction, the author looks at the European dimension and its influence on local governance (in the first chapter) before focusing on economic mechanisms in local governance. In light of German and French experience, the author also seeks to identify the democratic legitimacy resulting from, for example, the tax systems. After exploring institutional changes, which the European integration process introduced at a European level, the author then ultimately attempts to locate the challenges facing local governance within a context of globalisation. Particular attention is given to the subject of constructing local governance in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
(JD)
*** GERHARD FOUQUET, GABRIEL ZEILINGER (Editors): Die Urbanisierung Europas von der Antike bi in die Moderne. Kieler Werkstücke. Peter Lang (see address attached). “Beiträge zur Sozial- und Wirtschaftsgeschichte” series, No. 7. 2009, 270 pp, € 40. ISBN 978-3-631-57881-0.
Just a few centuries ago, most European cities only had a few thousand inhabitants in them. With history marching on, Europe's cities have developed in sometimes impressive ways and have led to the development of political systems and the emergence of “ city-based” culture, with massive social consequences. The objective of the different authors contributing to this book is to retrace the historical emergence of the great cities in Europe, starting with the Greek “polis”, right up to the modern day metropolis. The chronological evolution of Europe's cities is illustrated through concrete examples, such as Rome or the cities of the Netherlands.
(JD)
*** Le Courrier de l'Europe. Office de Publications Européennes (68 Bld de Port Royal, F-75005 Paris. Tel: (32-496) 380297 - Email: bruno.boissiere@cife.eu). April 2010, 34 pp..
This edition of the magazine managed by Bruno Boissière MEP and supported by the Centre international de formation européenne focuses on the regions of Europe, “in the face of globalisation”. Contributions in this publication are made by Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Danuta Hübner MEP and former Commissioner, Mercedes Bresso and her predecessor, Mr Van den Brande and the president of the Assembly of European Regions, Michèle Sabban. This edition also looks at the dialogue between social partners Philippe de Buck and John Monks. (MT)