*** SAMIR AMIN, FRANCOIS HOUTART (Editor): Mondialisation des résistances. L'état des luttes 2002. Centre Tricontinental (5 av. Sainte Gertrude, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve. Tel.: (32-10) 489560 - fax: 489569 - E-mail: centri@cetri.be - Internet: http://www.cetri.be ). "Forum mondial des Alternatives" series. 2002, 386 pp, 25 euros. ISBN 2-7475-3346-8
Seattle in 1999, Genoa in 2001 and Porto Alegre in 2002 are appearing to support the idea of a convergence between the social movements. The debates on alternative development strategies are massively increasing. Global reflection concerning social, ecological, cultural organisations within liberal capitalism is taking shape. The title indicates that it is necessary to analyse this phenomenon of globalisation of resistance through identifying those involved in the mass protests, who are often marginalised and who are becoming more coherent but whose spokesperson need to come to the fore in order to act more effectively in unison. In other words, "the movement of the movements is open and in multiple forms, but certain directions are being mapped out. The authors do not analyse the political effects. They focus on the movements themselves, their demands their degree of relevance and maturity. The book "supports the positions which they defend in their daily lives" and work towards strengthening their convergence. The objective is clear, as well as the tone. It too is committed as indicated in the introduction: "the individual and organisations that take part in the World Alternatives Forum have taken their positions: they are against dominant neo-liberal opinions; they know that these dominant ideas cannot come up with the goods, which is what people can now see - polarisation of wealth, the sometimes dramatic deterioration in the conditions imposed on whole populations, particularly the workers, women the indigenous peoples, the accelerated destruction of the environment and the dissolution of cultural specificities". That said, the writers have avoided coming out with a one size fits all, ideological solution and instead, welcome dialogue that is both open, attentive and interested. In the absence of unanimity in the points of view of the authors is the obvious proof of this.
The book is divided into four parts. First of all it identifies the resistances and struggle in the world and then analyses some of the issues that arise. It also provides an insight into the challenges and what is at stake for the movements. It also provides an assessment of the scale of the socials forces. Among the items on the inventory are: western Europe. Bernard Draeno, director of The Study and Initiatives Centre for International Solidarity, examines the current fracture between the Union and public opinion and describes: "European integration as practices today is often considered as on of the driving forces of globalisation in its neo-liberal colours much more than a brake on the excesses of the process or a means for an alternative process that could initiate another kind of globalisation". But from the outset, the author bases his description on reality. This is due, in fact, to the fact that many believe that European construction could be a means of influencing the blindness of globalisation, like an "essential building block in any social and democratic battle". The continental dimension is also present, as the necessary political area for resistance. It is here that "regression in the European debate" is attacked. Within Member States, as in the movements from civil society, sensitivity is wide ranging but not in proportion to real knowledge about Europe, "More than just the political positions taken in relation to the European Union, we also have to deal with the ideological reactions coloured by the national context, very often via an unconscious nationalism sketched out in a landscape that is full of extreme contrasts. Among the stakes at play in contemporary struggles, the book examines the subject of what is currently happening: " oil, the key to economic domination". In a very illustrative exposé, Bruno Carton, Director of Research in the Research Group for Alternative Strategies, reveals the mechanisms that determine the elaboration of international policies, as well as those that carry them out. In the image of the movements that he captures, this book is idealistic but goes in the right direction. It brings essential clarification and sweeps through common areas, while feeding and relaunching the process of reflection and at the same time avoiding self-righteousness in a way that is unblinkered.
Alain Dremière
*** STEPHAN GRILLER (Ed.): International Economic Governance and Non-Economic Concerns. New Challenges for the International Legal Order. Springer-Verlag (4-6 Sachsenplatz, P.O. Box 89, 1201 Vienna. Tel: (43-1) 3302415 - Fax: 3302426 - E-mail: springer@springer.at - Internet: http://www.springer.at ). "Schriftenreihe der Osterreichischen Gesellschaft für Europaforschung - European Community Studies Association of Austria" series, No. 5. 2003, 516 pp, 85 euros. ISBN 3-211-83823-6.
In December 1999, shortly after the World Trade Organisation summit in Seattle, the Austrian European Community studies association organised a conference in Vienna on the post-Seattle WTO, recent developments and future prospects. Some of the participants and a number of subjects on the agenda seemed quite provocative at the time - the legitimacy of the WTO, democracy, human rights, environmental protection, and labour standards, all subjects that suddenly became as important as the classic trade issues of cutting trade barriers in services and intellectual property rights. The debating style also changed. First Seattle and then Prague and Genoa became the new symbols of renewed public interest in trade issues.
Faced with these changes, the Austrian association, together with the research institute for European affairs and the Austrian Federal Trading Chamber, organised a second conference two months after the first, which in December 2001 brought together European and US scientists. This book contains the conference documents and also attempts to study some issues in greater depth, for example, democracy and legitimacy. Basic concepts that are now being discussed in parallel with the most practical aspects of the new agenda.
(MF)
*** FRANCOISE D'EAUBONNE: L'homme de demain a-t-il un futur ? Combien de temps durera le XXIe siècle ? L'Harmattan (5-7 rue de l'Ecole-Polytechnique, F-75005 Paris). "Questions contemporaines" series. 2002, 172 pp, 15 euros. ISBN 2-7475-2464-7.
From the title onwards, this essay smacks of a pamphlet. People who appreciate curses will not be disappointed. Following resolutely in the footsteps of Viviane Forrester, not to mention André Gorz and Jeremy Rifkin, the author fires off against a collapsing world, assessing the foundations of the "crisis of a society on the verge of disappearing". By which she means our society! For this anxious rebel, "the miracle remedy of unemployment seems far less realisable than a cure for AIDS" at this unprecedented moment in the history of humanity of a "theocracy of business" that is more than ever cultivating "Profit" at the expense of a potential workforce rendered useless by technical progress and a virtual global economy placed under the rule of "a planetary government that does not speak its name". A government "of multinationals", much more powerful than the government of countries, anchoring itself in the Bildersberg Trilateral, which she says manifests itself in the European Union through the Roundtable of European business leaders, "faintly grey matter whose desires are orders" in Brussels, and whose structures lean on international organisations (the IMF, WTO, OECD and the World Bank) to impose the "hegemony of the free market economy". Highly charged ideologically, her subject matter will clearly annoy many readers. But while some of the responses and accusations are to be taken with a pinch of salt, does that mean that none of the questions raised in this essay are irrelevant?
(MT)
*** ROY H. GINSBERG: The European Union in International politics. Baptism by fire. Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. (4720 Boston Way, Lanham, Maryland 20706, Unites States. Tel.: (1-800) 4626420 - fax: 4295748). 2001, 328 p., 27,95 dollars. ISBN 0.7425-0023-3.
The European Union is fifty years old but the author of this book believes that we still know very little about its role. It is often qualified as an "economic superpower", capable of exerting a certain influence on the world economy but which is also seen as apolitical dwarf incapable of playing a political role in keeping with its economic weight. This idea is certainly borne out by events of recent weeks. Professor Ginsberg examines the limitation to the political presence of the Union and the sources of Community action in the decision-making procedures. He examines the way in which the rest of the world sees the Union. He also looks at the political impact of the Union in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia and the peace process in the Middle East, as well as its relation with the USA, before reaching the conclusion that although the Union's political impact is variable it is much larger than is generally recognised.
(MF)
*** WILLIAM WALLACE: Reconciliation in Cyprus: The Window of Opportunity. Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute (Convento, 9 via dei Roccettini, I-50016 San Domenico di Fiesole, Italy. Fax: (39-055) 4685775 - E-mail: forinfo@iue.it ). "Policy Paper" series, No. 02/10. 2002, 16 pp.
The message in this publication written by a member of the London School of Economics is that it is in the interest of all parties, including the Union, that the opportunity for re-unification of Cyprus is grasped before it is too late. In order to back up this premise, William Wallace looks at the problem of partition of the island and explains that it is still possible to unite the island. He then looks at the consecutive dangers in an increase in the differentiation of positions that could cause re-unification to fail. He then analyses the key issues as well the benefits that would result for re-unification for both sides. Finally, the writer exposes the outline of an agreement that could acceptable to both camps and explains why an external commitment is essential.
FRo)
*** ANDREW HERITAGE, SYLVIE ZUCCO (Editor): Tellus,l'Encyclopédie du Monde. Editions Nathan (distribution: Vivendi Universal Publishing Services Benelux, 117 bld. de l'Europe, B-1301 Wavre, Belgium). 2002, 736 pp. ISBN 2-09-l84070-X.
This book is about planet Earth. Initially about the physical and political world but it is also about the solar system, the economy, the world population, tourism and security in the world. It also deals with international organisations in succinct chronological order and is clear and revealing about how the modern world took shape. It is completed by a chronology of events of the new millennium leading up to 11 September 2001. It is above all the presentation of 577 pages from l97 countries from the world, including countries that have been recently created, together with climate, transport, population, politics, external policy, international aid, defence, economics, resources, environment, media, criminality, education, health etc. It provides a chronology of the main historical events of a country, complete with chapters, maps, photos and graphs and a pleasant and lively formatting that is very reader-friendly. The list begins with Afghanistan and finishes with Zimbabwe (a separate chapter is dedicates to overseas territories); eight pages focus on the "large" countries, but every country has at least two pages on it, even the tiny Nauru, which only has 11, 800 inhabitants and no official capital city. The editorial team has sought to present the information in a way the is pertinent to the current period, despite the daily upsets in the world. it has apparently succeeded.
(LG)
*** HANI HABEEB: Le partenariat euro-méditerranéen: apports et limites. Le point de vue arabe. Publisud (15 rue des Cinq-Diamants, F-75013 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 45807850 - Fax: 45899415 - E-mail: publisud@compuserve.com). "L'avenir de la politique" series. 2003, 162 pp. ISBN 2-86600-907-X
PhD in economics, Hani Hbeeb has also had a career in diplomacy, rich in experiences. Syrian Ambassador to the Union and Benelux countries from 1996 - 2002, he is now Director of the department for a Euro-Syrian Partnership at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Damascus. When heading the Syrian delegation, he participated in negotiations which produced the Declaration of Barcelona. The Euro-Arab has, therefore, nothing mysterious about it to him. In this book, he exposes what he calls the "Arab point of view" in the partnership. The book is un-apologetically subjective, even militant, but manages to avoid any kind of impasse on the analysis provided from the context of the complex relations that are contained within. An indispensable guide for understanding perceptions from the other die of the Mediterranean.
(AD)
*** JEAN-LUC MANAUD, ROSELYNE CHENU: Instants du désert. Chêne publications (Hachette Livre-. 2002, 118 pp. ISBN 2-8427-7412-4.
This magnificent book by photographer and reporter Jean-Luc Manaud (born in southern Tunisia where he lived till the age of fourteen) is accompanied by the writings of Roselyne Chenu, who set up the Foundation for mutual intellectual aid in Europe, before creating the Fondation d'Hautevillers for dialogue between the different cultures. A theme to which she was committed for decades, particularly with her having set up the department of cultural activities at the Institute of the Arab World in Paris.
(MG)
*** L'Environnement pour les Européens. Magazine published by European Commission, DG Environment (Brussels) and distributed by Official Publications Office of the EC (L-2985 Luxembourg). In issue 13 (January 2003, 16 pp.): EU's reaction to the Prestige catastrophe, the Greek Presidency's environment agenda, the European Environment Prize awarded on 3 October 2002, the 10th anniversary of the ecolabel, the Life Programme, etc.
*** EUROPEAN COMMISSION (Official Publications office of the European Communities, L-2985, Luxembourg) has published the following documents:
*** Cordis focus. DG Entreprise (Fax: (352-4301) 32084 - E-mail: innovation@cec.eu.int - Internet: http://www.cordis.lu/news ). 10 February 2003, No. 214, 28p.. Free subscription.
Promoting the role of women in the area of research constitutes a priority for the Research Commissioner. Implementation of the directive on legal protection of bio-technological inventions by tardy Member States and the USA's returning to the international thermonuclear experimental reactor, are the other issues discussed. We also learn that UNICE is discussing the challenge of implementing the Lisbon objectives with the Greek Presidency and that Commissioner Liikanen has called on the political class to re-dynamise initiatives for broad band developments.
*** Rapport général sur l'activité de l'Union européenne 2002. (Tel: (352) 2942758 - E-mail: info-info-opoce@cec.eu.int - Internet: http: //publications.eu.int/general/fr/salesagents_fr.html). 632p. Price 38 euros.
The report describes the legislative development and achievements in the major areas of community activity. The general structure of the book is divided into ten chapters: institutional issues linked to the future of the Union, human rights and fundamental freedoms, Community economic and social area, citizenship and the quality of life, enlargement, role of the union in the world, funding of Community activities, resource management, Community law, institutions and bodies, information and communication. It also includes a general insight into the main trends and events and provides an analytical index.
*** European Public Health Alliance UPDATE. (36, rue de Pascale - B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2303056 - Fax: 2333880 - E-mail: epha@epha.org - Internet: http: // http://www.epha.org ). January / February 2003, No. 66. 29p..
This issue of European Public Health Alliance UPDATE focuses on business and health. Why should business not be beneficial to health care? Especially in a globalised world? The same question is posed with regard to social protection. The priorities of European policy on health are also explained in this edition.
*** Liaisons sociales Europe. (1 av. Edouard-Belin, F-92500 Rueil-Malmaison. Tel: (33-1) 41299991 and 299623 - Fax: 299670 - Internet: http://www.liaisons-sociales ). From 5 February 2003, No 2, 8p.. Issue No. 722 Price of issue: 25 euros.
"No pension reform without consensus or capitalisation", is the rallying cry of French unions that have been looking for inspiration from unions in neighbouring countries. They needed courage to sufficiently carry out reforms that sometimes transformed the profile of the pensions systems. Other subjects from the European current affairs scene looked at include: "The United Kingdom return to work for those marginalised from the labour market", "Jobs agenda of the Greek Presidency", data protection for workers in Luxembourg and access to public services in France.
*** La Lettre du CEPII. Centre d'études prospectives et d'information internationales. (9 rue Georges-Pitard, 75015 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 53685514 - Fax: 53685503 - Internet: http: //http://www.cepii.fr ). January 2003, N°219. 4p.. Annual subscription: € 47.50.
Demographic developments to 2050 in Europe are summarised in this issue. In major European countries the baby-boom generation is approaching retirement. The fertility rate and life expectancy are going to increase the number of pensioners, which will lead to a general decline in the total population.
*** Bulletin de jurisprudence constitutionnelle. Edition spéciale, Grands arrêts 1. (Conseil de l'Europe. F-67075 Strasbourg cedex. Fax: (33-3) 88412780). 149p.
The swift development of constitutional law constitutes one of the most important innovations in contemporary legal practice in Europe. It is intimately linked to the recent democratisation process in Central and Eastern European countries. Under the auspices of the Venice Committee (for democracy through the law), a network of Constitutional Court agents and equivalent jurisdiction has been set up.