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This book accounts for whether and how the path of the European Union (EU) has developed towards potential disintegration. These questions have become particularly relevant since the outbreak of the debt crises in the Eurozone and the Brexit referendum. The author critically subverts theories of European integration and analyses the rise and fall of federations, empires and states in a comparative perspective. The most promising theory presented here indicates that Brexit is not likely to be followed by other member states leaving the EU. Nevertheless, the EU has been undermined from within as it cannot adequately address Eurosceptic dissatisfaction from both the left and right. This book is an essential read for everyone interested in the EU and its future.
List of contents
Chapter 1 Introduction.- Chapter 2 Neo-functionalism and European disintegration.- Chapter 3 Realism, intergovernmentalism and European disintegration.- Chapter 4 Federalism and European disintegration.- Chapter 5 Comparative imperialism and European disintegration.- Chapter 6 Towards a proper explanation of European disintegration.- Chapter 7 How European integration started despite ever-present disintegrative forces.- Chapter 8 How European integration has continued, despite the EU's limited locking-in capacity. Chapter 9 The external de-consolidation of member states increases dissatisfaction with the EU.- Chapter 10 Disintegration or not?.- Epilogue.
About the author
Hans Vollaard is Lecturer in Dutch and European Politics at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. He has recently published on European disintegration, the Netherlands in the EU, European regulation of cross-border healthcare, and local democracy.
Summary
This book accounts for whether and how the path of the European Union (EU) has developed towards potential disintegration. These questions have become particularly relevant since the outbreak of the debt crises in the Eurozone and the Brexit referendum. The author critically subverts theories of European integration and analyses the rise and fall of federations, empires and states in a comparative perspective. The most promising theory presented here indicates that Brexit is not likely to be followed by other member states leaving the EU. Nevertheless, the EU has been undermined from within as it cannot adequately address Eurosceptic dissatisfaction from both the left and right. This book is an essential read for everyone interested in the EU and its future.
Additional text
“European Disintegration is a bold and original work … . the book amply — and occasionally brilliantly — succeeds in using academic ideas to ‘move beyond
the cursory reflections of the day’ … .” (Sean Hanley, Slavonic and East European Review SEER, Vol. 97 (3), July, 2019)
Report
"European Disintegration is a bold and original work ... . the book amply - and occasionally brilliantly - succeeds in using academic ideas to 'move beyond
the cursory reflections of the day' ... ." (Sean Hanley, Slavonic and East European Review SEER, Vol. 97 (3), July, 2019)
