Globalisation and Enlargement of the European Union: Austrian and Swedish Social Forces in the Struggle over Membership / Edition 1

by Andreas Bieler

Overview

On January 1 1995, Austria and Sweden joined the European Union (EU). This book examines why these two countries joined at such a moment and studies their accession against the structural background of globalization.
In this cutting-edge analysis, Andreas Bieler argues that conventional neo-functionalist and intergovernmentalist theories fail to explain such structural change as they take existing power structures as given. Therefore, he develops a neo-Gramscian perspective as an alternative approach to European integration.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415213127
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/18/2000
Series:	Routledge Studies in Globalisation
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	1380L (what's this?)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: theories of integration and Austria's and Sweden's accession to the European Union - a critique and alternativeSome limitations of integration theories A neo-Gramscian alternative2. Austria and Sweden in an era of global structural changeThe processes of globalisation The post-war economic and political systems in Austria and Sweden The impact of the processes of globalisation on Austria and SwedenGlobalisation and the configuration of social forces in Austria and Sweden3. Social forces and the struggle for application in Austria and SwedenThe struggle over the Austrian application to the EUSweden and social democratic hegemony: the struggle postponed4. The conflict over the EU referenda in Austria and SwedenFrom the EEA via Maastricht and membership negotiations to the referenda The referendum struggle in Austria A debate at last: social forces mobilise in Sweden 5. Austria's and Sweden's accession to the EU and the changing security structureNeo-realism, neutral states and the end of the Cold War Austria: the silent redefinition of neutrality Sweden: neutrality redefined as non-alignment 6. The future enlargement of the EU towards Central and Eastern EuropeA neo-Gramscian perspective on future EU enlargments Globalisation and the transformation of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the question of EU membership 7. Conclusions: globalisation, EU enlargement and the limits of neo-liberalismA neo-Gramscian perspective as an alternative approach to European integration Social Forces behind the Austrian and Swedish accession to the EU The possibilities for a counter neo-liberal project