The Choice for Europe: Social Purpose and State Power from Messina to Maastricht (Cornell Studies in Political Economy) - Hardcover

Moravcsik, Andrew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0801435099 ISBN 13: 9780801435096

Publisher: Cornell University Press, 1998

Synopsis

The creation of the European Community ranks among the most extraordinary achievements in modern world politics. Observers disagree, however, about the reasons why European governments have chosen to coordinate core economic policies and surrender sovereign prerogatives. In this eagerly awaited book, Andrew Moravcsik analyzes the history of the region's movement toward economic and political union.

Do these unifying steps demonstrate the preeminence of national security concerns, the power of federalist ideals, the skill of political entrepreneurs like Jean Monnet and Jacques Delors, or the triumph of technocratic planning? Moravcsik rejects such views. Economic interdependence has been, he maintains in his provocative argument, the primary force compelling these democracies to move in this surprising direction. Politicians rationally pursued national economic advantage through the exploitation of asymmetrical interdependence and the manipulation of institutional commitments.

Focusing on Germany, France, and Britain, Moravcsik examines the five decisive agreements that propelled integration forward. He seeks to reintegrate the historical study of European unity with theoretical inquiry into the sources of international cooperation.

About this title

About the Author:

Andrew Moravcsik is Professor of Politics and Director of the European Union Program at Princeton University. He is the author most recently of Europe without Illusions.

Review:

"Moravcsik has produced a very well-written and ambitious work which addresses the flaws in previous scholarship on this issue. Simply stated, it is the best synthetic account of the European integration process currently available, and must be read by anyone with an interest in this intriguing issue."

(Todd Alan Good, H-Net Reviews)

"This is an excellent book which uses a wide range of new empirical materials about the major decision points in the development of the European Union, and shows a mastery of the relevant theories and of the process of theorizing. Under both headings it is innovative and sophisticated, and deserves to be regarded as a major, even masterly contribution."

"Moravcsik's book is a purely retrospective study (and all the better for it), examining why sovereign governments in Europe have repeatedly chosen to coordinate their core economic policies and surrender sovereign prerogatives within an international institution.... The case argued by Moravcsik is powerful, well buttressed by evidence, and weighty.... This is an original and challenging account of European integration."

(Adam Robbers, Times Literary Supplement)

"Moravcsik's book provides the most comprehensive account of the history-making decisions setting up the EC/EU available. It will set the standards in European studies for the years to come.... This book represents an excellent synthesis of his work.... Moravcsik's particular strength is his ability to combine in-depth historical analysis with rigorous hypothesis testing. This is the main reason why this book constitutes a model for future research in European studies and elsewhere.... This is a path-breaking book.... It also contains a political message that is utterly relevant for the future of the European Union."

(Thomas Risse, International Politics)

"Few books are as clearly argued as Andrew Moravcsik's.... His analytical presentation is carefully articulated, his presentation of historical material is meticulous and his conclusions are at the same time provocative and well-grounded in existing debates. Simply, his is a book that is bound to generate useful controversy even among those who know very little about the intricacies of integration theory beforehand. Moravscik has succeeded not only in creating a touchstone for contemporary theorizing about Europe, but also in providing perhaps the best course book for advanced undergraduate and graduate students interested in European affairs.... At the same time, and perhaps more important, Moravscik may inspire a new generation of students to take the study of Europe as seriously as they take the subject matter."

(Eric Jones, Governance)

"Andrew Moravcsik has written a densely documented, well argued, intelligent, and aggressive book."

"Moravcsik's brilliant book is, and will remain for a long time, one of the standard works on the subject. It is clearly a must for everyone seriously engaged in the debates of the discipline.... A masterpiece.... The depth of discussion and the treatment of the rich empirical material are truly exceptional and its analytical rigor is razor-sharp.... Moravcsik's book is an enriching and splendid intellectual operation."

"In The Choice for Europe, Andrew Moravcsik combines social science theory with extensive empirical research to produce the most compelling and significant analysis yet of the European Community."

(Robert O. Keohane, Duke University)

"Andrew Moravcsik, in this work of rich insights and cogent case studies,deserves complements for illuminating the 'grand bargains' that have forged and developed the European Community (now European Union). This work is a distinguished contribution to thinking about these paramount events in contemporary Europe. Moravcsik has performed a laudable feat by skillfully weaving the themes of nation-state decision formation with domestic socioeconomic variables, thereby enriching our comprehension about these frontier-shattering experiments in transnational co-operation.... The book is consistently interesting, stimulating, and intellectually challenging."

(Pierre-Henry Lauren, International History Review)

"This challenging volume will be read―and re-read―for its insights into West European integration. Moravcsik's painstakingly thorough study lays out the rich evidence for his probing analysis of European statecraft."

(Helen Wallace, Director, ESRC One Europe Or Several Programme, Sussex European Institute, University of Sussex)

About this edition

• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0801435099
• ISBN 13: 9780801435096
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 528