Euroclash: The EU, European Identity, and the Future of Europe - Tapa blanda

Review from previous edition ...An important contribution... [The] book is written in a very accessible style, illustrating well this new interpretation of the drive to European integration... (Journal of Common Market Studies)

...characteristically wide ranging, original and theoretically sophisticated addition to the literature on European integration... it opens up genuinely new terrain, making a powerful, provocative and timely case for a new more holistic and deeply socialized understanding of the process of European integration... (Socio-Economic Review)

As this brief overview indicates, Euroclash is a rich book and worthwhile reading... the most systematic study of European identity to date, and it strikes a fine balance between theoretical ideas and empirical work. (Economic Sociology_the european electronic newsletter)

The European Union's market integration project has dramatically altered economic activity around Europe. This book presents extensive evidence on how trade has increased, jobs have been created, and European business has been reorganized. The changes in the economy have been accompanied by dramatic changes in how people from different societies interact. This book argues provocatively that these changes have produced a truly transnational-European-society.

The book explores the nature of that society and its relationship to the creation of a European identity, popular culture, and politics. Much of the current political conflict around Europe can be attributed to who is and who is not involved in European society. Business owners, managers, professionals, white-collar workers, the educated, and the young have all benefited from European economic integration, specifically by interacting more and more with their counterparts in other societies. They tend to think of themselves as Europeans. Older, poorer, less educated, and blue-collar citizens have benefited less. They view the EU as intrusive on national sovereignty, or they fear its pro-business orientation will overwhelm the national welfare states. They have maintained national identities. There is a third group of mainly-middle class citizens who see the EU in mostly positive terms and sometimes-but not always-think of themselves as Europeans. It is this swing group that is most critical for the future of the European project. If they favor more European cooperation, politicians will oblige. But, if they prefer that policies remain wedded to the nation, European cooperation will stall.