*** FRANCOIS FORET: Légitimer l'Europe. Pouvoir et symbolique à l'ère de la gouvernance. Presses de Sciences Po (117 bld Saint-Germain, F-75006 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 45498364 - Fax: 45498334 - email: librairie@sciences-po.fr - Internet: http://www.pressessesciencespo.fr ). "Académique - Faits politiques" series. 2008, 290 pp, €25. ISBN 978-2-7246-1081-9.
Political entities have to create themselves in some form and impose symbols on themselves as a seal of legitimacy. The basic hypothesis in this scientific book (aimed essentially at experts) is that the European Union does not escape from the imperative of the symbolic. In the light of the people's rejections of the constitutional treaty in referenda, the rejection for the moment of the Lisbon Treaty by the Irish, and the fact that political speeches and the dominant intellectual analysis of European integration present it as an arrangement of interests that is rationalised to the extreme and dominated by a functionalist logic, the author makes a detour by examining symbols in order to question this vision and gauge the meaning of the European Union in the eyes of its citizens. In the introduction, François Foret observes in this connection that transfer of loyalty from the nation state to Europe is not currently on the cards and instead, we are in the presence of ever closer overlapping of two levels of identity references (leading to their recomposition), sharpened by the context of globalisation. According to the author, who is director of political research at the 'Institut d'Etudes Européennes' and researcher at the 'Centre d'Etudes de la Vie Politique' of 'Université Libre de Bruxelles', the legitimacy of the European Union is itself fashioned by a twin demand. Firstly the "expectation of reassurance, protection, even the restoration at an extended level of unsteady reference frameworks at national level" followed then by the "fear of alienation". The second hypothesis running through the research, that the author verifies through his detailed analysis of European symbols, is that despite its multi-level governance and participatory democracy aiming to get all actors associated in decision-making, the European Union does not escape from the temptation of being the centre, in other words, of imposing itself as the source of meaning.
Summing up some ten years of research, the book is divided into seven chapters. The first looks at the "failed marriage" between functionalism and Constitution. The author first looks at the 'Europe of results', the new slogan for EU legitimacy, echoing the functionalist tradition by renewing it. He points out, however, that legitimisation by results seems to be contingent and incomplete because it says nothing about the social and political struggles that govern the definition of the targets to be met and the criteria decided upon to measure effectiveness. In this respect, the constitutional process confirmed the crucial dimension of allegiance to Europe when it comes to rule, the aim being not simply legal but also to activate a constitutional symbolism in order to benefit from its legitimising impact. The problem, according to François Foret, is that in order to carry this out, elites and institutions had to supply answers to issues relating to the material life of ordinary citizens, on the one hand, and collective identity and civic society (living together) on the other, which suddenly meant that "Europe was simply an object, a symptom, on which to project wider political conflict" and, in their doubts about the security that could be gained from such a venture, many citizens ended up expressing a "precautionary vote". The author then analyses the problems of legitimising the European Union through changes in political communications, the impact of the EU political and administrative configuration and the logics of interaction that ensued between the elites and the masses. He then assesses the way the EU entity is introduced through politicians - including EU Commissioners who, in his words, are a political elite in the full meaning of the word but do not have the resources traditionally held by national leaders and this gives them a rather distant relationship with ordinary people - and an informal European protocol aiming to "give the image of a warm, united, EU family". Another angle of research is the generation of speeches and literature by European literature in the light of the White Paper on Governance, "the most comprehensive expression of the political referenced paradigm of EU public action," and the public brochures published by the European Commission.
François Foret goes on to examine the rituals and representations of the big European 'whole' that the EU has acquired in recent decades, reviewing in turn universal suffrage (that did not have the expected impact) and the party that, like Europe Day, failed to materialise; the European anthem without any official lyrics, which is an obstacle to popular ownership; the changes to institutional statistics in the light of both conflicts of interest and national prestige and considerations by rational experts; and, finally, the image to which the institutions turn parsimoniously due in the author's view to a lack of truly European signifiers. In this connection, the author devotes an entire chapter to the European flag which, as is currently shown by the Czech President, "depends on the good will of nations and private initiatives," with a series of elements explaining that the twelve star flag is known and appreciated by citizens by does not generate the same emotional charge as national flags. The last chapter analyses the spectacular success of European public policy in the form of the single currency, the euro, which does not prevent the author from inviting readers to be careful in their appreciation of the impact of the single currency on the legitimisation of Europe. Summing up, the author makes several suggestions for boosting the popular legitimacy of the European Union while refusing to sink into pessimism. He writes that the fears generated by EU are these days underscored by a refusal to reject the idea of European integration and this shows that a large section of citizens refuse to reject any opportunities that may be provided by Europe, which remains an enigmatic authority and area. An invitation to continue the battle to win hearts and minds…
Michel Theys
*** JEAN-LOUIS QUERMONNE: L'Union européenne dans le temps long. Presses de Sciences Po (see above). 2008, 231 pp. ISBN 978-2-7246-1076-5.
In what direction is Europe going? What is the European Union's future, this movement of unity of the peoples of Europe in common institutions that was born on 9 May 1950 following the intuition of Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman and the other "Fathers of Europe"? The author of this book, honorary professor of politics at Paris University and founder member of the 'Notre Europe' study group, answers this question in a user-friendly language for the general public, starting from experience in practice, current problems and likely prospects for the next few decades. A comment from Jacques Delors from the preface: "The retreat of the so-called Community Method, proper application of which, however, coincided with the most unchallenged progress in the European project". A strongly held and clearly set-out idea, which is followed by the assertion that the bases have to found for a "European public power that is not simply the reproduction at EU level of the concept of the nation state". So the idea from the book's title of a long view is set out in the introduction, an idea borrowed from historian Fernand Braudel, a long-term view, the length of which is not fixed but will inevitably be spread out in time, a lengthy process, of which the second half of the twentieth century that is now behind us is simply the first act., explains the author. Who could criticise him for this lack of precision at a time when Member States' governments have, for half a century, been quick to say that they were "determined to establish the foundations of an ever closer union among European peoples" (Rome, 1957) or "resolved to pursue the process of setting up an ever closer union between the peoples of Europe" (Maastricht, 1992, Amsterdam, 1997)?
The author does not indulge in rhetorical statements. Using the Lisbon Treaty, which is supposed to come into force in the near future, he sets out a few ideas about institutional changes that could lead to progress in the European Union in the next few years. Without going into the arguments behind these ideas here (they can be found in the book), Prof. Quermonne suggests: seeking better operation in the Council of Ministers by reducing the number of different Councils and promoting a semi-permanent General Affairs Councils comprising national ministers endowed with authority by their respective heads of state; introducing a permanent chairing of each Council formation - rather than only for the Foreign Affairs Council - by a vice-president of the European Commission; as allowed by the Lisbon Treaty, the permanent head of the European Council being the same person as the President of the European Commission; and a reduction in the number of European Commissioners, decided on a unanimous vote by the European Council. Some of these suggestions have already been mooted by others (they are quoted by Prof. Quermonne) but this book usefully sets them out in a solidly argued summary, saving time for organised political forces and citizen-voters so they have time (a long time) for reflection, debate and action. So could Europe have not only one hotline but also a centre of gravity and political weight in the rapidly changing world outside?
(J-RR)
*** SINIŠA KUŠIÆ: Zwischen Euphorie und Ernüchterung-Kroatien auf dem Weg in die EU. Peter Lang
(1 Moostrasse, CH-2542 Pieterlen. Tel: (41-32- 3761717 - Fax: 3471727 - email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). "Sozio-ökonomische Perspektiven in Südosteuropa", No. 1. 2007, 168 pp, €29.90. ISBN 978-3-631-55224-7.
Croatia became an official applicant to join the European Union in 2005, but it hoped to become closer to the EU already in the late 1980s when the old Soviet Union fell apart and Yugoslavia disintegrated. Although the idea of Croatia joining the EU was surprising to some, the Croatian harmonisation process has made significant progress. The country swings these days between euphoria and disenchantment, between stagnation and growth. The reforms to lead Croatia to democracy and a market economy have not been able to resolve the persistent problems of low exports, the trade deficit and failure to pay off foreign debt. Querying Croatia's future role in the European regional system and its capacity to cope with EU competition, the author of this book summarises the ideas of Europhiles, Eurosceptics and Eurodoubters, before considering various possible developments in the situation. Through an in-depth study of history and the sharp changes in the political, institutional and economic landscape, the author sheds light on the major brakes on Croatia joining the EU.
(EPi)
*** MARÍA-LUISA VILLANUEVA ALFONSO (Eds.): La Méditerranée et la culture du dialogue - El Mediterráneo y la cultura del diálogo - El Mediterrani i la cultura del diàleg. Lieux de rencontre et de mémoire des Européens - Lugares de encuentro y de memoria de los Europeos - Punts de trobada i de memòria dels Europeus. Instituto de estudios europeos. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes / Peter Lang (1 av. Maurice, B-1050 Brussels. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - Fax: 3761727 - email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). "Euroclio" series, No. 42. 2008, 339 pp, €34.90. ISBN 978-90-5201-425-8.
Following on from a series of conferences at Jaume I de Castellón University in Spain, this book contributes to the creation of common fora for dialogue among Europeans with the aim of promoting a culture of debate meshing with the search for 'the other'. With essays in French, Spanish and two in Catalan, the book is divided into three sections. The first includes chapters on languages and debate aiming to encourage mutual understanding of languages and the training of students. The second contains analyses on the mirror games at play when one comes into contact with 'the other,' the subject being considered through travel literature and research into cultural influences among Mediterranean peoples. The third part presents a diversity of approaches to the construction of knowledge and its transmission, to moving from myth to logos, and the role of memory and tradition.
(PBo)
*** MARTA PETRICIOLI (Ed.): L'Europe méditerranéenne - Mediterranean Europe. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes - Peter Lang (see above). "L'Europe et les Europes - 19e et 20e siècles" series, No. 8. 2008, 365 pp, €32.90. ISBN 978-90-5201-354-1.
Arising from international cooperation among twenty researchers, this book provides interesting information about Mediterranean Europe and, more generally, the 'world of the Mediterranean,' not only from the historic, economic, demographic and political angles, but also in the field of international relations and cultural policy. In the first section, the authors show how historians, geographers and other political scientists have described the region, and look at the roots of their perceptions. The second part looks at characteristics that link up Mediterranean countries, after which the authors look at prevailing feelings of identity in Catalonia, Sicily, Sardinia, Malta and Cyprus. In the final section, the essays urge the European Union to develop a dedicated common foreign policy for the Mediterranean area based on both economics and culture. In the conclusion, Prof. Gérard Bossuat writes that the countries on the 'other side' of the Mediterranean are all 'waiting for Europe'.
(PBo)
*** Revue politique et parlementaire. Société d'Edition Académique et Diplomatique (3 rue Bellini, F-92800 Puteaux. Tel: (33-1) 46981372 - Fax: 47730148 - Internet: http://www.revuepolitique.fr ). July-September 2008, No. 1048, 220 pp, €24. Annual subscription: €61 (France), €75 (elsewhere). ISBN 978-2-85702-164-3.
Most of this issue is given over to the fiftieth anniversary of the setting up of the Fifth Republic in France, including essays by Valery Giscard d'Estaing and Michel Rocard.
(MT)