This new book takes a unique approach to the study of European enlargement, tackling key questions. What kind of understanding of the EU do the enlargement processes speak to? Do decisions to enlarge mainly suggest that the EU is a free market, focusing on potential economic gains? Do they indicate that there is a sense of common European identity? Or is the focus primarily on securing respect for democratic principles and human rights? Offering up-to-date studies of the EU enlargement processes and country-specific in-depth analyses, Questioning EU Enlargement will be a valuable resource for students and scholars of European studies, international relations and politics.
Author(s): Helene Sjursen
Edition: 1
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 240
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
Tables......Page 8
Contributors......Page 9
Acknowledgements......Page 10
1 Introduction: Enlargement and the nature of the EU polity......Page 12
Part I The EU as a post-national rights-based union......Page 28
2 Justifying the second enlargement: Promoting interests, consolidating democracy or returning to the roots?......Page 30
3 In spite of the costs?: Moral constraints on Spain’s enlargement policy......Page 55
4 Turkey’s EU politics: Consolidating democracy through enlargement?......Page 73
Part II The EU as an identity-based community......Page 90
5 The importance of solidarity: Denmark as a promoter of enlargement......Page 92
6 More than simply expanding markets: Germany and EU enlargement......Page 115
7 The case of Turkey: Are some candidates more ‘European’ than others?......Page 132
8 Protecting the idea of Europe: France and enlargement......Page 153
Part III Between norms and interests......Page 176
9 Probably a problem-solving regime, perhaps a rights-based union: European integration in the Czech and Slovak political discourse......Page 178
10 Double standards?: Minority protection as a condition for membership......Page 197
Conclusion......Page 212
11 The European Union between values and rights......Page 214
Bibliography......Page 227
Index......Page 246
