Europe and the global crisis. Economy, geostrategy, civil society and values (Gota a Gota, February 2013)

"The crisis in Europe and the euro problem", a chapter in his edited book Europe and the global crisis. Economy, geostrategy, civil society and values (Gota a Gota, February 2013)
Civil Society in a broad sense
The case of Europe/ European Union
2013

February 2013

Gota a gota books has published the English version of Europa y la crisis global (May 2012). It is titled Europe and the global crisis. Economy, geostrategy, civil society and values, and it is edited by Víctor Pérez-Díaz.

 

In the introduction to the book, "The crisis in Europe and the Euro problem", written by Pérez-Díaz, the main point of the author, in the end, is that Spain’s attachment to the euro may be understood as resulting from an existential choice and as assuming that being part of the monetary union is like being part of the ‘natural order of things’.

 

The introduction begins so:

The current European crisis comprises several interrelated problems and, in section 1, while  I insist on the problems of agency --the European Union being a rather weak agent when it comes to solving those problems, particularly ones related to the economy and geo-strategy-- I also draw attention to certain factors that could improve both the governance of the region (especially the contribution of civil society) and public discourse (the value of reflexivity, together with the broadening of the spatial-temporal context of the debate). In section 2, I outline some experiences linked to the European process which have aggravated these problems of agency and affected Europe's political leadership and citizenry. I conclude, in section 3, with an analysis of the attitude of European citizens towards their common currency, treating the euro as a symbol of the crisis, and taking as reference the case of a Euromediterranean currency. I suggest that Spanish people's attachment to the euro points to an argument that may provide support both for handling the current crisis and for reinforcing the European process of integration in the long term.

The book can be bought here.

 

Table of contents

Introduction: the crisis in Europe and the euro problem (Víctor Pérez-Díaz)

PART I. ECONOMY

The European economic crisis: Lessons and policy challenges (Juergen B. Donges)

The economic crisis and beyond: Why varieties of capitalism matter (Peter A. Hall)

The EU's response to the financial crisis: a mid-term review (Karel Lannoo)

PART II. GEOSTRATEGY

Geostrategy: The Eurasia region (Robert Kaplan)

The return of the capitalist-authoritarian Great Powers (Azar Gat)

A grand continent, a not-so-grand strategy (Josef Joffe)

Constraints and dilemmas of military intervention (Pierre Hassner)

PART III. CIVIL SOCIETY AND GOVERNANCE

Reinventing civil society: Three time's the charm! (Lucas Meijs)

Associative democracy from below: democratic governance "Nordic style" (Lars Trägårdh)

Introducing the "big society" (Phillip Blond)

Two nations? Civil society, governance and politics in Berlusconi's Italy (Michele Salvati)

PART IV. CULTURE

Reflexivity and the social order of the new millenium (Margaret S. Archer)

Ambiguous legacies of the Axial Age. Anchors or obstacles for a world adrift? (Richard Madsen)

The avatars of advance modernity. The risk that civil society in advance modernity becomes an oligarchical city (Víctor Pérez-Díaz)