Flexible Europe: Differentiated Integration, Fairness, and Democracy

The book explores the alternative of a flexible EU based on differentiated rather than uniform integration, assessing the desirability and political acceptability of this approach. It examines the circumstances and institutional design needed for flexibility to promote fairness and democracy within and between member states.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 25 January 2022
Publisher: Bristol University Press

The European Union (EU) is frequently portrayed as sacrificing national diversity in favor of European unity. This book delves into an alternative approach, advocating for a flexible EU based on differentiated rather than uniform integration. The authors employ normative theory and empirical research on political party actors to evaluate the desirability and political feasibility of differentiated integration as a means of accommodating heterogeneity within the EU. They examine the circumstances and institutional design necessary for flexibility to promote rather than undermine fairness and democracy within and between member states.

Clear, balanced, and accessible, this book offers fresh insights into the future of the EU. It challenges prevailing narratives and provides a compelling argument for a more inclusive and dynamic European Union. By exploring the potential of differentiated integration, the book contributes to ongoing discussions about the EU's role and direction in a rapidly changing global landscape.

Weight: 320g
Dimension: 134 x 212 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529219920