The deepening crisis of the European Union: the case for radical change

This volume is drawn in large part from academic papers presented at the 18th EuroMemo Conference at the Poznań University of Economics in September 2012. The first section is devoted to an examination of deficiencies of both the structures of political decision-making in the European Union and of the conduct of EU crisis management since 2008. The second section considers broader features of Europe's political economy which have a fundamental influence on its general evolution and the development of its deepening crisis. The third and final section includes the chapters which, in different ways, address key challenges facing the advanced economies of Europe at a fundamental and critical juncture in their development. "The book is a much needed addition to the literature on Europe’s structural growth weaknesses and the mismanagement of the 'Great recession' at both European and member state level. The critical viewpoint is stressed on the EU basic institutional biases together with suggestion of alternative solutions respectful of social needs and the well-being of citizens" (Nicola Acocella, Professor of Economic Policy, Department of Methods and Models for Economics, Territory and Finance, Faculty of Economics, University of Rome 'La Sapienza').

Preface (Włodzimierz Dymarski, Marica Frangakis and Jeremy Leaman)

Part I THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF AN AVOIDABLE DEPRESSION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
1. Berlin consensus and disintegration. Monetary regime and uneven devel­opment in the EU (Joachim Becker and Rudi Weissenbacher)
2. The political economy of the “Euro-system” (Michel Husson)
3. Boom and (deep) crisis in the Spanish economy: Th e role of the EU in its evolution (Miren Etxezarreta, Francisco Navarro, Ramón Ribera-Fumaz and Victoria Soldevila)
4. Impact of the global crisis on the economic performance of Central and East European countries (Włodzimierz Dymarski)
5. Th e financial crisis and the restructuring of the EU social model (Mahmood Messkoub)

Part II DISCOURSE AND HEGEMONY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
6. Crises and capitalist oligarchies: A radical critique of society and its politi­cal economy (Judith Dellheim)
7. EU governance: democracy as a mere fragment of political discourse (Giovanni Esposito and Tomaso Ferrando)

Part III IN SEARCH OF ALTERNATIVES: THE CASE FOR A TRANSFORMATIVE AGENDA IN A RADICAL EUROPEAN UNION
8. The need for a radical “growth policy” agenda for Europe at a time of crisis (Peter Herrmann and Marica Frangakis)
9. The future of capitalism will be decided in the cities (Mikael Stigendal)
10. The preconditions for reducing social inequality in Europe (Jeremy Leaman)
List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Boxes
Notes on Contributors