CRISISEUROPE

Nation-States and Economic Europeanisation: The transformative effects of the 1970s crisis (1973-1984)

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The 1970s crisis deeply modified the way in which Western European nation-states exercised their economic powers. This project argues that a fierce debate occurred between different economic models (mercantilist, market-oriented, social-democrat) and different institutional settings (national, European or global). It was resolved in favour of a progressive Europeanisation of ideas and policies through the European Economic Community (EEC) institutions, associated with growing market-oriented economic features. So as to examine this process, two economic policies with different aims and tools, competition policy and industrial policy, will be considered through three relevant case-studies: the steel crisis, the liberalisation of telecommunications, and the debate around the regulation of multinationals. The three most important western European nation-states, France, Germany and Great Britain, will be considered. The study will begin in 1973 – with the oil crisis and the integration of Great Britain into the EEC – and end in 1984, at the end a dramatic period of crisis both for the European economy and for the European integration process. It is argued that the acceleration of the processes of European integration, of globalisation and of economic liberalisation of the post-1984 years – on which there is a thorough body of literature – cannot be understood without studying the previous decade. The project will offer a decisive contribution to a literature on European integration whose main focus is the post-1984 years, or which examines the 1973-1984 years only from the political or the monetary viewpoints, whereas both of these dimensions failed to explain the decisive shift in the Western Europe, from the Keynesian welfare states to a first step towards the EEC regulatory state.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU team documented the 1970s debates concerning candidate models of European economic federalisation. The project documented four players and the waxing and waning of three main models, concluding that the option of a neo-liberal Europe was only one alternative among others and not a preordained outcome.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

During the 1970s and the early 1980s, western Europe responded to the period's economic crisis by choosing increased federalisation of economic policies in addition to neo-liberal economic tools. Such outcomes were the result of intense debate regarding other conceptions of Europe and candidate institutional structures, yet Europe could have taken a different direction.

The EU-funded CRISISEUROPE project investigated the reasons. The project considered four main actors: the trio of dominant European countries (Britain, France and West Germany) plus the European Economic Community (EEC) Commission. The project was administered by the London School of Economics and Political Science, running for two years to August 2014.

Economic modelling helped identify actors and debates opposing the three main candidate models for Europe. A chronology showed the rising and falling prominence of various options. The idea of social Europe dominated from 1973 to 1979, neo-mercantilist theories prevailed between 1977 and 1984, and neo-liberalism arose from 1980. The project concluded that the debate had not yet been settled as of 1985.

Work also investigated other institutional forms Europe might have taken. The EEC model of Europe was chosen for a mix of economic, political and institutional reasons. Project research argued that the present model was the best compromise between national autonomy and credible commitment.

The CRISISEUROPE project illustrated modern debates concerning the form of the EU. Such questions also informed recent challenges of globalisation and the current economic crisis.