Bulletin n. 3/2014
February 2015
CONTENTS
  • Section A) The theory and practise of the federal states and multi-level systems of government
  • Section B) Global governance and international organizations
  • Section C) Regional integration processes
  • Section D) Federalism as a political idea
    • Niklasson Lars
    Competing Narratives on the European Social Model : the Birth of a Rhetorical Alliance
    in Europe en formation (L') , n° 372, 2014/2 ,  2014 ,  67-79
    The concept of a European Social Model is highly complex and controversial. Many attempts have been made to construct a winning coalition which could convince the member states of the EU to settle for a common social model implemented at the European level. There is now a new rhetorical figure being constructed in terms of a “social investment welfare state”. Authors like Bruno Palier (France) and Joakim Palme (Sweden) argue that welfare should be seen as investments in a healthy population, i.e. to increase competitiveness. This concept may in fact be an attempt to align social democrats with conservatives of a mercantilists leaning, i.e. those who believe in a strong role for the state to develop the resources of the nation. The rhetorical coalition is seen more clearly if it is contrasted to another possible coalition, a coalition of social democrats and liberals, around the idea of providing support for individuals rather than firms.
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