Europe after Maastricht: Into the Twilight Zone

In: New political science: a journal of politics & culture, Heft 24-25, S. 175-191

Abstract

A review of the politics involved in the European union, following the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1991. It is argued that the Treaty's plan for an Economic & Monetary Union (EMU), based on principles of an orthodox free market economy, will destabilize community political systems, disrupt power relations in economic policy making, & ultimately splinter the working class. An account of the development of the Single Market Project in 1986 culminating in the Maastricht Treaty considers the resistance of GB's Thatcher government & the French & Danish referendums. Europe's economic convergence in a currency union idealizes German-style economic management. It is noted that the emergence of the single market will force corporations to downplay the importance of social rights. 5 References. J. Sadler