Annals of the Fondazione Luigi Einaudi

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Economics, History and Political Science

The Annals is a forum for the free exchange of ideas
among scholars working in the field of social sciences
Volume LI 2 - 2017

The Economic and Political Crisis of the EU Polity: A Review Essay

Furio Stamati,
pp. 289-315
10.26331/1026,
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ABSTRACT

The present essay reviews nineteen volumes, published in English between 2012 and 2016, which contributed to the Eurozone crisis debate. Before contrasting different perspectives on the Eurozone crisis, it focuses on core-periphery dynamics within the EU. Then, it sheds light on the wider debate on EU polity-building and democracy. Finally, it discusses a number of proposals for exiting the crisis. Overall, the reviewed contributions suggest that the political and economic crisis of the EU is a crisis of its rules. Legal centralism and technocratic integration made the EU vulnerable to the crisis and kept it fragile afterwards. The readings suggest many ways to strengthen and complete the EU polity. Not all of them look viable. The most promising ones, however, bring new focus on an old idea: the principle of subsidiarity and its potential to recast EU politics, economics and law.