"Being someone rather than doing something became uppermost, with sad results for innovation and competition in Britain"

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Product Description

If the European Union applied to become a member of the European Union it would be rejected as undemocratic. Can the European Union foster greater democracy in Europe, and so protect the dispersal of power, personal freedom and the rule of law? Willit improve our shared lives and increase sense of being useful citizens? Rejecting both nostalgia for the nation state and thoughtless optimism, Larry Siedentop sets out to explore the practical implications of government on a continental scale. He draws on his expertise as an historian of liberal theory to produce an analysis of Europe's various political economies. In creating a framework for thought, this is sure to be a key work in the long deferred debate on Europe.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #440312 in Books
• Published on: 2001-06-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
"Increasingly, we find ourselves worshipping at the altar of economic growth rather than citizenship." Larry Siedentop's clear-headed exploration of the drift towards European federalism, and our recalcitrant response to its needs, identifies a crisis in European liberalism. Economism, exemplified by Thatcherite policy but rife throughout Europe, outstripped the political will, with destabilising consequences for the state. Lack of cohesive thought and a culture of consent will, he argues, almost certainly prove ruinous in the future. His suggestions include a three-stage model for liberal democracy and constitutionalism, a European Senate, greater legal presence, laws that reflect social thinking and the mobilisation of "active" citizens, rather than the ancient regime model of aristocratic rule.

If it took a Frenchman, Alexis De Tocqueville, to shrewdly analyse American democracy in 1835, (Siedentop's title consciously echoing Democracy in America), it takes an American Oxford law fellow to sort the democratic diamonds from the Eurotrash. He panders neither to Europhobe nor Europhile, but asks both to examine their positions, and sensibly gives no truck to Labour or Tory posturing. Between the Scylla and Charybdis of British "common sense" and French bureaucracy, sails the Federalist Frigate, manned by a German crew and flying the American flag. Harsh criticisms of French agenda within Europe are slightly tempered by the acknowledgement that what drives it, apart from fear of a reunited Germany, is a fierce desire for a modern, cultural Europe; a "brand name". However, where the United States had a lingua franca, social mobility and a blank(ish) canvas on which to write its constitution, Europe has an infinitely harder task. Its switch must be sideways, and creakily painful. That it must happen is inevitable, but Siedentop's ringing conclusion to these compelling, searching political essays advocates caution: "Federalism is the right goal for Europe. But Europe is not yet ready for federalism." Siedentop's brilliantly bold, far-ranging provocation, faultlessly balancing historical narrative with political acuity, provides sophisticated kindling. --David Vincent

From the Publisher
A book which pitches straight into the debate about Europe
Democracy in Europe is redefining the debate about what Europe is and where it is going. It has attracted praise from some of Britain’s leading political commentators and is being acknowledged as the text which takes discussion to a new level:

‘The subtlest and most sophisticated book on the EU I have yet read’ Will Hutton

‘This is a book for every chancellery across our continent’ Peter Preston, Observer

‘Siedentop’s book forces us to re-examine our prejudices and assumptions’ Malcolm Rifkind, The Times

'The richest discussion of Europe for British readers for years' Denis MacShane, Independent

‘If you feel you need straightening out on Europe but can’t bear another word of the partisan blustering and cajoling that passes for debate, this is the book for you’ George Walden, Evening Standard

‘Were the ghost of Tocqueville to fly into Brussels, he would probably produce something like this stimulating analysis of the dilemmas currently facing the European Union’ Mark Mazower, Financial Times

‘Siedentop’s book has already been hailed for breaking a deadlock that has held for nearly 50 years’ Jonathan Freedland, Guardian

About the Author
Larry Siedentop is a lecturer in Politics at Keble College and current chair of the Oxford politics faculty. His previous books include TOCQUEVILLE. He has also written the introduction to Guizot's HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION IN EUROPE for Penguin Classics.

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Customer Reviews

An essential read for students of European politics
This book may have come in for criticism recently (see Andrew Moravcsik's article in Foreign Affairs) but that is half of what it's all about, which is to say provoking a discussion on the future of democracy in Europe. Yes, there are some over-exaggerations, particularly regarding France's ability to shape the EU in it's own image and on the need for more lawyers in both the political and public spheres, yet this should not detract from a book oozing reason, intelligence and thought-provoking arguments. Democracy at the European level is a delicate and fragile affair and if federalism is our ultimate goal then a more thorough examination and discussion of the implications of such a move and indeed the conditions required to make it a success are imperative. 'Democracy in Europe' is an immensely valuable contribution to this discussion and essential reading for those interested in democracy, politics and the EU at large. A must.

Penetrating and fair, this is a vitally important book
This book exposes the paucity of the current 'debate' on the future of the European Union and identifies clearly what we should be discussing. It does so in an attractive and extremely persuasive fashion. Whilst he discusses ideas of considerable sophistication, the author starts from first principles and he does not assume a knowledge of political theory which would make his book inaccessible to non-politics graduates (such as myself). Above all, the author brings an objective eye to bear upon the current state of democratic government in the European Union. Before reading this book I had a complacent view that there was no need to change the British way of doing things which had 'worked' for hundreds of years by evolving to meet changes in society. I also had a confused and fearful view of the future for Europe. I could do no better than think that the UK should obstruct further erosion of 'national sovereignty' by the European Union and hope that something would 'turn up'. This book has ended my former complancency and has helped to dispel my fears and confusion. The author forcefully and convincingly points out the pressing need for nothing less than that both Britain and the European Union get their constitutional houses in order to regain the respect of the public and to govern with consent and authority. Siedentop does so by demonstrating from first principles what are the fundamental requirements of a stable democratic society. He then shows the alarming extent to which they are missing in Britain and France in particular, and, as a result, the European Union. I believe this book to be of real importance. It gives the reader the tools to understand and contribute to the true debate about the future of Europe and to identify the full extent of the evasions and prejudices which characterise the current debate in Britain. Whilst the book raises many concerns about the current state of affairs, I believe the facts that it has been written, and written about by so many political commentators, give cause for great optimism about the future. The book is not light, its subject matter precludes that, but it is highly readable. I would unreservedly recommend it to any national of a European Union Member State who is concerned about how he or she is to governed. That should mean all of us.

A Modest Dissent
For the most part I join the chorus of praise. This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking analysis of the state of Europe today and its insights will affect the ongoing debate for years to come. My dissent is on what is a relatively minor point, but one that is part of a core argument. Siedentop argues that the US never had to deal with nationalism in its federating activities. I think it is absolutely clear that it did. The Civil War was in many ways a nationalistic uprising. Lee's statement that he was a Virginian first and an American second states the perspective slearly. While the main arguments are not affected by this, it causes me to view the other arguments in an unfavorable light.