*** YVES CLARISSE, JEAN QUATREMER: Les maîtres de l'Europe. Editions Grasset (61 rue des Saints-Pères, F-75006 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 44392200 - fax: 42226418 - Internet: http://www.grasset.fr ). 2005, 422 pp., € 20.50. ISBN 2-246-63721-X.
Journalists are often confronted with the comment “too long!”. In the press such as this, one is only required to confirm the rule on rare exceptions. An article is always too long, whatever information has been harvested in the investigation. A literary castration usually follows for most journalists, which is sometimes difficult from a psychological point of view. By nature journalists are keen on travelling, navigating along the still visible coastlines and restive high seas on their adventures. The main quality of our excellent colleagues Yves Clarisse ( the “European” French-speaking journalist at Reuters for more than twenty years) and Jean Quatremer (correspondent on the French newspaper “Libération” to the European institutions for fifteen years, is to have produced a two-edged but immensely readable book, in the style of a newspaper article, of more than four hundred pages. The subject is supposedly a boring one (according to many editors) but their stylistic talent and rat in providing the exposé with a wealth of quotations and anecdotes from a variety of brilliant sources they turn European construction into a passionate political adventure with its epic high points and typically human low points. In their book, “maîtres de l'Europe” (Masters of Europe) there are men and women fighting for power with their politics of grandeur, underhand tricks, noble ambitions and their sordid calculations.
A book by journalists is not in the same genre as one written by scientists. Clarisse and Quatremer do not theorise on the basis of the information they receive, sometimes from privileged sources. They uses them like pearls to tell their story, that of construction of the European institutions over the past twenty years. In painting the portrait, they depict an array of personalities building Europe, with the prosecutor rather than the lawyer in a triumphant role. Focusing on the Commission, the first part of the book is particularly corrosive. Romano Prodi does not come out unscathed, for example, by choosing Neil Kinnock for being in charge of internal Commission reform, which the writers describe as being “like a bull in a china shop” and who strengthened the feeling of a “British take over bid on Brussels”. Neither are the authors any kinder to Edith Cresson, “the product of a French political class who has never ceased to confound the interests of the State with those of her party and, in some cases, with her own interests”. They describe the first hesitant steps of president Barroso and consider that “if he had greater awareness about the balance of forces in Europe”, he would have awarded the most important posts to the Franco-German couple when currently (after all it is the period following the no-vote in the two referendums). “Paris is not hiding the fact that it is doing nothing to facilitate the role of the executive, in which France is not represented”. These journalists are what they are and it is clear that this book will rub up certain people the wrong way. There is a lot of journalist food for thought and it is not biased ideologically bur rather based on a body of presumptions backed up by shared confidences and which clarifies the problems and bungles and without which the story would have been earnestly concealed. The pages on mad cow disease or the sordid cattle trading at the European Council of Nice illustrate this feature implacably.
One should not reach the conclusion that Clarisse and Quatremer are doing a demolition job of the institutions and the actors of the Union. On the contrary. After having explored the meanderings of “Europe under Threat” they then present it as a “Europe of Power” through its competition policy which is making the USA buckle, as well as its ability to become the “arbiter of globalisation” (when they mention Mario Monti or Pascal Lamy the claws are pulled in to give way to much gentler treatment, as well as the euro launched to conquer the world. Only Common Foreign and Security Policy leaves them wanting more. In the same vein the authors tell the untold story of the Convention and the European Councils, which in fine, led to the European Constitution. They explain it in the light of human weakness and human appetites of those who govern us (some well targeted criticism of Berlusconi). The book is critical but it is also constructive. Nothing can be predicted, the authors suggest, and explain that Europe's driving force is its permanent crisis. The current fever is in this context overcoming everything that has hitherto been experienced. Perhaps the Masters of Europe will be inspired to reflect on this other kind of journalistic commentary and for once, learn some lessons, “although Europe has been able to remove barriers, it now has to build a project for the future and say what it wants: to become a world power capable of defending its model or to settle for a free trade zone with a few laws thrown in. For the instant, it is bogged down and which results in an unease among governments and citizens alike”.
Michel Theys
*** JOHN VAN OUDENAREN: Uniting Europe. An Introduction to the European Union. Rowman and Littlefield Publishers (4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706, USA - P. O. Box 317, Oxford OX2 9RU, UK - Tel: (1-800) 4626420 - Internet: http: //http://www.rowmanlittlefield.com ). "Europe Today" series. 2005, 401 pp., £ 22.95. ISBN 0-7425-3661-0.
Head of the European at the US Congress and Professor at the University de Georgetown, John Van Oudenaren's book traces the evolution of the Community of Six to that of the Twenty-five and methodologically illustrates the rise in power of its political leaders. The author provides an overview of the institutions, legislation and policies of the Union and demonstrates it gradual transformation into a global economic power, as well as its efforts to assert itself politically on the world economic scene. He looks at Union challenges: enlargement, providing a dynamic to the European economy, the launch of the euro, finalisation (?) of the European Constitution, reconciling concerns of Member States and protecting elements of their sovereignty with the affirmation of a coherent and efficient Commons Foreign Security Policy. A new chapter, this book is in its second edition, and it looks at the disputes between the Union and the USA. The author highlights the efforts made by the political actors on both sides of the Atlantic to build a partnership capable of overcoming divergences on trade, the Kyoto Protocol or Iraq.
(LD)
*** L'Europe en formation. Centre international de formation européenne (10 av. des Fleurs, F-06000 Nice. Tel: (33-4) 93979397 - fax: 93979398 - E-mail: europe.formation@cife.org - Internet: http: //http://www.cife.org ). 2005, No. 1, 77 pp.. Subscription: € 30.
This issue of the federalist review founded by Alexandre Marc was just completed before the French referendum and focuses on responding to the arguments of those against the Constitutional Treaty. It begins with an editorial refuting the main thrust of the arguments for the no-vote. It then shows how some opponents in the guise of Christian values do not hesitate to use fallacious arguments and oppose the words of the Pope and different Archbishops who support European construction since its beginning. It then follows with a study of Poland's competitive economy in Europe, as well as the regular chronicle of political life in Europe and the world.
(FRo)
*** CLAIRE DEMESMAY, HANS STARK (Editors): Qui dirige l'Allemagne ? Presses Universitaires du Septentrion (rue du Barreau, BP 199, F-59654 Villeneuve d'Ascq. Internet: http://www.septentrion.com ). "Espaces politiques" series. 2005, 325 p., 20 €. ISBN 2-85939-913.5.
At a time when Germany is involved in implementing some difficult reforms and appears to be on the verge of a change of government, the French Institute of International Research has decided to publish two complementary books with the aim of providing a clearer picture of this country to the French people. The first volume asks the question "Who rules Germany?" (the second answers the question "Who are the Germans?"). It begins with a study of the nature and role of powers and contra-powers at different levels: institutional, civil society and decodes the federal model sometimes referred to as "Kanzlerdemokratie". It then describes the social and economic mechanisms at play in this country as its catches its breath though unpopular reforms. In the chapter on "The Republic of Citizens", it examines the different elements influencing public opinion, such as the media. The book is well written and allows for a better understanding of this essential partners in the Union, Germany.
(FRo)
*** Centro In Europa. Rivista di studi e di iniziativa europea. Centro in Europa (7/5 via Ippolito d'Aste, I-16121 Genova. Fax: (39-010) 564356). 2005, No.1, 62p p., € 7.75. ISBN 88-8163-228-4.
This issue of the magazine of the Centre presided by former MEP Roberto Speciale focuses on a major Genoa figure, Giuseppe Mazzini, as well as Genoa during his epoch, the Risorgimento. It contains some attractive illustrations ( the pictures of the city's Museo del Risorgimento). The publications recalls the turbulent life of this man sentenced to death bin abstentia and who was forced into exiled on many occasions, and where in Marseilles he founded the Giovine Italia movement working towards a "United, independent, free and republican nation". In London he published the Peoples Journal between 1846-1848 and reflections on modernity's influence on democracy in Europe.
(MG)
*** GENEVIÈVE DERMENJIAN, JACQUES GUILHAUMOU, MARTIN LAPIED (Editors): Le panthéon des femmes. Figures et représentations des héroïnes. Editions Publisud (15 rue des Cinq-Diamants, F-75013 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 45807850 - fax: 45899715 - E-mail: edipublisud@wanadoo.fr - Internet: http: //http://www.publisud.fr ). "L'Europe au fil des siècles" series. 2004, 234 pp., € 24. ISBN 2-86600-981-9.
Saints, warriors or even revolutionaries, from mythology to the present day: heroines are often left in the shadows of their masculine counterparts. But what really is a heroine or hero? Often this is more of a question of profile rather than deeds committed. The authors of this collectively written book first look at the historical, social and cultural aspects of the heroine. They then look at allegorical representations through characters such as Judith and Joan of Arc. The book then explores heroines through a series of examples as models of identification and role models, before it draws a link between their action and recognition, which is sometimes difficult to attain. The real objective of this book is to show how the heroine is above all the expression of developing social constructs of women and their role in society.
(FRo)
*** JEAN WIDMER: Langues nationales et identités collectives. L'exemple de la Suisse. L'Harmattan (5-7 rue de l'Ecole-Polytechnique, F-75005 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 40467920 - fax: 43258203 - E-E-mail: diffusion.harmattan@wanadoo.fr - Internet: http://www.editions-harmattan.fr ). "Logiques Sociales" series. 2004, 230 pp., € 20. ISBN 2-7475-7325-7.
December 1992. Switzerland votes on joining the European Economic Area. The no-vote just wins out by 50.3%. A shock? Yes but due to how people voted in the different areas. In German speaking areas, the yes-vote was only 44% and barely 40% in the Italian speaking part of the country but in the French speaking part of the country it was 77%. Based on the “living laboratory” making up the Swiss confederation (four national languages, four linguistic regions with a variety of dialects) Jean Widmer, Professor of sociology, media an communication at the University of Fribourg, demonstrates, in this comprehensive book how speaking a given language is not above all a linguistic difference but rather a distinct manner of establishing one's identity as a collective political body. Results are based on relations between the linguistic differences and political preferences expressed in the elections. The study also examines specific relations with, for example, the media, the academic world, as well as the specific way in which debates and public problems are tackled.
(PBo)
*** MARC FAVRE D'ECHALLENS (Editors): L'avenir s'écrit aussi en français. Editions Corlet-Panoramiques (ZI, route de Vire, BP 86, F-14110 Condé-sur-Noireau, France. Tel: (33-2) 31591515 - fax: 31699105 - E-mail: gisabo1@gisabo.com - Internet: http://www.corlet-editions.fr ). "Panoramiques" series, No 69. 2004, 234 pp., Subscription € 14.: € 45 (France), € 56( abroad). ISBN 2-84706-117-7.
With the death of its founder, Guy Hennebelle, this issue focuses on the passionate issue of linguistic diversity, particularly the defence of the French language, especially with its position under threat with in the European Union. The fight is a justifiable one and certain contributions are certainly food for thought. Jean-Paul Nerrière, former vice-president of IBM's contribution is worth a particular mention. He defends the point of view that globish, the prevailing language of communication in the world, "is bound to contaminate English by increasingly pushing it towards passivity". The language which is the most under threat is therefore not the one we generally imagine. Some of the other contributions fall into the trap of being too overly extreme or jingoistic in their support of French.
(Bo)
*** EUROPEAN COMMISSION (Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985 Luxembourg. Internet: http: //publications.eu.int) has published the following documents:
*** RDT info. DG Research, Information and Communications Unit (Tel: (32-2) 2959971 - fax: 2958220 - E-mail: research@cec.eu.int). April 2005, No. special, 44 pp..
This special edition focuses on memory. The subject is obviously too wide ranging to cover entirely but RDT info takes us through what could be called the memory of life. This journey starts at the very beginning with the birth of the universe, with an interview with physics expert Edgard Gunzig and articles on the birth of light (300,000 years after the big bang) and the supernova. It then provides a series of papers on he evolution of our planet, looking at geological, climate and biological aspects. It then explores humanity, its “memory” through its DNA, how the brain works and the fight against neurodegenerative diseases.
*** Revue du marché commun et de l'Union européenne. Editions techniques et économiques (3 rue Soufflot, F-75005 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 55426131 - fax: 55426139- E-E-mail: editecom@starnet.fr - Internet: http: //http://www.editecom.com ). May 2005, No.487, 61 pp.. Subscription: 202 euros.
It is natural that the subject of the Constitutional Treaty has its place in the May issue. It is through a contribution on convergence of national legal systems, French for example and European. The review, however, avoids the yes or no debate and focuses on dossiers around the debate. One article provides some details about the Bolkestein directive, the real issue of contention over recent months. It points out that this directive is totally in the tradition of European integration and that its scope is far less than we would be led to believe and that it does not threaten public services. Another paper presents the challenges to the European social model. Others tackle issues raised by enlargement, such as the fear of a massive influx of workers from the East at “knock-down prices”, the use of languages in the Union, macro-economic and geographic factors in regional convergence of central and eastern Europe and Croatia's approaching accession. Another theme interfering in the French referendum was the Turkish accession issue.
*** Gérer & Comprendre. Editions ESKA (12 rue du Quatre-Septembre, F-75002 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 42865573 - fax: 42604535 - E-E-mail: eska@eska.fr - Internet: http: //http://www.eska.fr ). "Annales des Mines" series, No.79. March 2005, 90 pp., € 23. Subscription: € 86. ISBN 274720815-x
This publication explores the comparison between the 25 Member States and the common game of handball. Why? Because the article studies the comparison between the management of a sports team and a commercial enterprise. While demonstrating the obvious limits of such a comparison, it explains how team sport can constitute a pedagogic tool for developing team efficiency. Another article looks at the very distinct world of management in high risk industries, such as nuclear power, where maintenance means that every year workers and where experiments, notably on information exchange between the EDF and subcontractors involves an important place. Other articles focus on mediation in professional relationships, the setting up of companies by researcher-teachers and the mysteries of Norwegian management.
*** Brazil. OECD Publications (2 rue André-Pascal, F-75775 Paris cedex 16. E-mail: SourceOECD@oecd.org - Internet: http://www.oecd.org ). “Economic Surveys”. February 2005, No. 2, 12 pp.. ISBN 92-64-00747-4
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development provides in this publication, an examination of the South American giant Brazil, which is experiencing an economic recovery. This country is currently harvesting the fruits of macro-economic consolidation, mainly via policy and strengthening of the institutions. This issue provides a detailed analysis of the Brazilian economy. It firstly looks at macroeconomic data, followed by its development via the highlighting of strong and low points. It then looks at the development of the financial market and the legal set-up. This publication provides more than detailed graphs, it also puts forward a series of recommendations.