Library

Etienne Balibar : Europe : the impossible citizenship (nov. 1999)

Etienne Balibar calls for greater awareness about the situation in which Europe is entangled. The European construction as a new political entity cannot only be developed through a " vertical " construction, that would simply result in a bureaucracy superimposed on coalition of national interests. The construction must necessarily be conducted in parallel with the development of democratic citizenship, with the formation of a " European People " which would enhance both the legitimacy of European Community and its real political power. The author analyses the hurdles in the way of the formation of " European people " and proposes some initiatives to continue the European construction.

Pierre Calame : Let's restart the discussion on european problems, but with another basis (jan. 2001)

European construction encounters today various hurdles, the 're-nationalisation' of minds, the tensions provoked by pursuing national interests (repetitive failures of the common agricultural policy) and the management problem in the European Community. To relaunch the debate it is necessary to set up a new basis for discussion. Many critics of the European model in fact express the same desire : a unity of civilisation with respect for diversity. This document suggests some paths to follow to establish this new foundation and proposes the challenge of constructing a Europe that will demonstrate the possibility of an alternative model to the world community.

Pierre Calame : The Principle of Active Subsidiarity. Reconciling Unity and Diversity (feb. 1996)

In this article Pierre Calame explains the necessity of adopting the active subsidiarity principle. In fact this concept offers new ways of understanding and articulating the contemporary problems, and allows the elaboration of innovative propositions. The active subsidiarity is defined as being a philosophy and a method of governing, stemming from the need in the modern world to reconcile unity and diversity.
This principle provides the possibility to grasp the reality in its global and systemic nature, to think the articulation of scales and it entails a collective and continuous elaboration. The author narrates the events that leaded him to think of changing perspective. It is by analysing various situations and conundrums that he encountered in his involvement in European, national and local policy processes and by bringing to light concrete propositions of action that he demonstrates the possibility of innovation that could bring about the implementation of the active subsidiarity principle.

Pierre Calame : The Building of Europe. Some Lessons for the Future (may 1996)

The objective of the article is to highlight the lessons learned on elements and conditions that have allowed the European political project to build institutions and economic dynamics respectful of the equilibrium between the 'freedom of individuals and common goods'. In the first part the hindrances that had to be overcome are analysed as well as the strong points of the generation of men and women that were confronted to the reconstruction after the second world war. In the second part the processes from which stemmed the economic reconstruction are analysed and it is explained how they can be considered as political acts. In the third part the outstanding actions of certain men in terms of " art de faire " are underlined. Finally some key points for thinking and searching solutions to the actual regions' common problems are suggested.

Pierre Calame : A new stage of European construction (june 1999)

This article, not yet published, has been written after the meeting in Valencia on the future of the Rural European Area. Three paths are suggested for opening a new phase in the European construction :
- a thorough re-examination of the European system of governance
- a radical reconsideration of the 'old' policies, CAP being one of the first needing to be revised
- the implementation of a European public debate

Pierre Calame : Challenge and Prospects for Governance (nov. 1998)

This two-page article summarises the main themes of the book “L’Etat au cœur”. It highlights the main cultural transformations that have to be undertaken for introducing new relations between public action and the society and for conceiving ways of reconciling the imperatives of unity and diversity in a globalised economy.

Pierre Calame : A new step for european gouvernance (june 2000)

The European Union, and particularly the mechanism of relation between the European Commission and the European Council established on the distinction between the power to make propositions and the power to decide, are nowadays in crisis of legitimacy, transparency and coherence. For these reasons it is necessary to imagine, in the Commission, new ways for elaborating propositions. The founding policies of the European Union have to be entirely reconsidered and active subsidiarity has to be developed. A charter would need to be written down, not only for clarifying citizens' rights, but also for enunciating citizens' responsibilities. The legitimacy of the Union has moreover to be re-established and enhanced.

Eric Dacheux : Fighting against indifference : the action of associations in European public sphere (nov. 1999)

This article presents the book " Vaincre l'indifférence : le rôle des associations dans l'espace public européen " written by Eric Dacheux. He describes and analyses the types of public action carried by associations. The objectives of this book are to 1) describe the means used by citizens' associations in order to shape and establish a European public space; 2) to show the possibility to re-launch the theoretical debate on democracy by learning the lessons from these concrete experiences. This book proposes a detailed political analysis from the point of view of people at grassroots level and gives a new viewpoint on the contemporary public space.