What Holds Europe Together?
Krzysztof Michalski is Rector of the Institute
for Human Sciences in Vienna, Austria. He is Professor
of Philosophy at Boston University and the University
of Warsaw. His most recent publication is the co-written
work, Modern Political Theory and the Rise of Secular
Civilization.
The book addresses contemporary developments in European
identity politics as part of a larger historical trajectory
of a common European identity based on the idea of 'solidarity.'
The authors explain the special sense in which Europeans
perceive their obligations to their less fortunate compatriots,
to the new East European members, and to the world at
large. An understanding of this notion of 'solidarity'
is critical to understanding the specific European commitment
to social justice and equality. The specificity of this
term helps to distinguish between what the Germans call
"social state" from the Anglo-Saxon, and particularly
American, political and social system focused on capitalism
and economic liberalism.
This collection is the result of the work of an extremely
distinguished group of scholars and politicians, invited
by the previous President of the European Union, Romano
Prodi, to reflect on some of the most important subjects
affecting the future of Europe.
Contents
Introduction; Michalski: The
Work of the Reflection Group on the Spiritual and Cultural
Dimension of Europe; Geremek: Europe as a Community;
Biedenkopf: "United in Diversity":
What Holds Europe Together?; Böckenförde:
Conditions of European Solidarity Grabbe: What
Hope for Solidarity in the Enlarged Union?; Kovacs:
On the Eve of a Gloomy Feast: Narratives of Solidarity
in the Enlarging Union; Rupnik: The European
Union's enlargement to the East and solidarity; Biedenkopf,
Geremek, Michalski, Rocard: Conditions of European
Solidarity; (Concluding Remarks) Comments
by 19 scholars and politicians; List of Contributors
"The argument about different
narratives between the old and the new members is nicely
illustrated by some of the comments... Lech Kaczynski
(now president of Poland and new enfant terible of the
European Union) and Jan Rokita provide examples for
the eastern narrative.
To a certain extent, this books tells us more about
the actual political discussion and its shortcommings
than about what holds Europe together." - Slavic
Review
2006
196 pages
ISBN 978-963-7326-47-9 cloth $40.00
/ € 29.95 / £19.95
ISBN 978-963-7326-48-6 paperback $22.95
/ € 16.50 / £15.99
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