Union Crisis Research Articles

ІНТЕГРАЦІЯ ЧИ ДЕЗІНТЕГРАЦІЯ: УРОКИ РЕФОРМУВАННЯ ЄВРОЗОНИ

Мain objective of the study is to analyze endogenous destabilizing and disintegration tendencies within the framework of the European Monetary Union crisis, which grew into a crisis of a real economy, which simultaneously involved several EU member-states. Achieving this goal requires addressing a number of theoretical and historical lessons that highlight an important dilemma for the survival of the European project in the future. Research methods are systematic, procedural and situational approaches to the study of the Euro-zone countries, participants in the integration project and disintegration influences; institutional approach to the detection and analysis of dysfunctional institutional configuration within the framework of the European Monetary Union. Of great importance for the study of the economic integration and disintegration’s problems is the use of the universal scientific methodology principles, including an integrated approach to problem solving, envisaging a general vision of the movement of capital in the context of the European integration project, as well as the application of methods of logical models, induction and deduction, the unity of logical and historical in the development of a research object confirming the synergistic effect of historical and theoretical lessons. The main results and conclusions of the study are to formulate a clear and important dilemma for the survival of the European economic project: the creation of a political union with a functioning institutional configuration of the federal states, or the re-nationalization of many political spheres (financial control and restrictions, monetary sovereignty, trade policy, etc.). Taking into account the history of the Euro-zone, it is important to understand that there is a situation that more closely resembles a non-conflict but latent disintegration, which, instead of a single outbreak of conflicts, has been observed and lasted for a long period.

Les temps de 1968 : des sources sociophilosophiques aux restructurations anthropologiques — les fonctions de la Psychiatrie

We will focus to consider the dimensions before and after the May 1968 event, and not its history; And we will tackle four main themes: 1. The historical and societal context: on the one hand, the difficult years of France from 1960 to 1964 closely related to the events in Algeria and, on the other hand, the project of the University Reform dominated by the selection at the entrance of the University. The three evolutionary phases of events are well known: student crisis, union crisis, political crisis. In the midst of the many interpretations, we will retain especially the positions of L. Ferry and A. Renaut. The movement would be like “a cradle of the new bourgeois society. The various cultural movements are part of a dynamic that is that of individualism” (Tocqueville). 2. The general philosophical sources are thus very precise: the theme of the end more or less of philosophy which claims to be a science. The dissolution of the idea of truth. The end of any reference to the Universal. 3. The problems of Humanism: it is the appearance of anti-humanism and the development of the defeat of thought. The work of A. Finkielkraut develops very well the consequences of these currents in culture, history, sociology, literature and even the clinic with structuralism. It's time for deconstruction and great leaders M. Foucauld, P. Bourdieu, J. Derrida. This is the time of the death of the man and the agony of the subject. 4. The functions of psychiatry and psychopathology. It is in this same period, and especially after 1968, that we will see the development of the action and thought of the great psychiatrists who will focus to construct psychiatry and related sciences on the basis of anthropological structuring. Psychiatry is individualized. The reaction to anti-psychiatry is organized. And the very strong references to the great phenomenological philosophers of France, Germany and Austria contribute to the development of an open and constructive anthropology. The three major dimensions must be taken into account: bodily existence, integrative consciousness, creative freedom. And we know that clinical, therapeutic and institutional areas can benefit from the development of these major currents.

Estrategias adaptativas del sindicalismo español contemporáneo

En este artículo, el autor discute la tesis de la crisis u obsolescencia del sindicalismo en las sociedades industriales avanzadas, para el caso del sindicalismo español de finales del siglo XX. Para ello analiza, en primer lugai; la evolución reciente del mercado de trabajo español con objeto de describir el escenario en el que los trabajadores definen sus problemas y plantean sus demandas a los sindicatos, y, a su vez, el marco en el que los sindicatos definen sus objetivos y desarrollan estrategias para adaptarse y defender los intereses de los trabajadores; en segundo lugar, los problemas que consideran que tienen los trabajadores y las demandas que dirigen a los sindicatos, es decir, los intereses de los trabajadores; y, en tercer lugar, los principales objetivos sindicales y las estrategias que ponen en marcha para implementarlos en las postrimerías del siglo XX. Con estos elementos se tratará de contestar a la pregunta: ¿se adaptan las organizaciones sindicales españolas de finales de siglo a los intereses de los trabajadores?.

Діяльність Платона Доманицького щодо подолання фінансової кризи в ощадно-позичковому товаристві с. Колодистого (1908-1910): спроба мікроаналізу

Діяльність Платона Доманицького щодо подолання фінансової кризи в ощадно-позичковому товаристві с. Колодистого (1908-1910): спроба мікроаналізу

Економічна, політична та соціальна кризи Європи в XXI столітті.

The article identifies current trends and prerequisites for the emergence of the European Union crisis in the 21st century. The research outlined in this article explains how and how controversial the process of European unification was; how the consequences of this process in the form of multiple intertwined crisis phenomena affect the current world political order in general and, in particular, Ukraine. The author has reviewed and analyzed the work of the Spanish post-Marxist sociologist, Manuel Castells, who specializes in the theory of the post-information society, together with other European authors – "Europe`s Crises". The authors of this book were intended to return to European integration, focusing on the period from 2008. to the present, and strove to understand the distinctive features of numerous crises that disturbed the peace of Europe during this period of time. The factors of the formation of the concept of European and national identity were considered. This article states that in the case of the EU, an attempt to impose the identity for the implementation of the European project has provoked strong resistance that threatened the project. The process of European integration achieved its goal, namely the prevention of wars and conflicts between its member states, but, perhaps, the integration was not as positive at the economic level as we could expect. It should be noted that today the EU needs a strategy to respond to migration and refugees, but cannot create it. This is recognized in EU documents, but the relevant directives have failed to implement this policy. The article states that the crisis in Europe is multifaceted: it is economic, financial, social and political crisis. And, as we can see, these are also cultural, intellectual and moral crises that affect the very essence of the values that define Europe and its identity. The fact that European crisis phenomena directly or indirectly influence Ukraine, its information presence and ideas of Europeans about Ukraine is unconditional.

Crisis bargaining in the European Union: Formal rules or market pressure?

To what extent did the European Monetary Union crisis alter the logic of European Union decision making? We analyze the relevance of asymmetric market pressures as compared to that of formal voting and agenda setting rules by applying three established bargaining models to the ‘EMU Positions’ data. Accounting for the interdependence between issues and agreements, we locate actors’ positions on three reform dimensions, namely the level of fiscal discipline, transfer payments and institutionalization. We find that market pressure during the height of the Eurozone crisis was particularly relevant, and that debtor countries were weakened by their difficulty in refinancing their public debt. Our finding shows that formal rules determining agenda setting and veto rights remain relevant even in times of crisis.

Earth Observation for Security and Defence: The European Union Satellite Centre Experience and Future Views

The European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen) was founded in 1992 under the framework of the Western European Union. Today it is a Council agency of the European Union. It supports decision-making and actions under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), in particular the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). It thus provides the European External Action Service, as well as European Union crisis management missions and operations, products and services based on the exploitation of relevant space assets and collateral data, including satellite and aerial imagery, and related services. The Centre, under the operational direction of the High Representative for the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mrs Frederica Mogherini, is located in Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain. It has approximately 130 members of staff and a global budget of EUR 26 million

The nature of the eurocrisis: a reply to Febrero, Uxó and Bermejo

Febrero et al. (2018) criticise the balance-of-payments (BoP) view of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) crisis. I have no major objections to most of the single aspects of the crisis pointed out by these authors, except that they appear to underline specific sides of the EMU crisis, while missing a unifying and realistic explanation. Specific semi-automatic mechanisms differentiate a BoP crisis in a currency union from a traditional one. Unfortunately, these mechanisms give Febrero et al. the illusion that a BoP crisis in a currency union is impossible. My conclusion is that an interpretation of the eurozone's troubles as a BoP crisis provides a more consistent framework. The debate has some relevance for the policy prescriptions to solve the eurocrisis. Given the costs that all sides would incur if the currency union were to break up, austerity policies are still seen by European politicians as a tolerable price to pay to keep foreign imbalances at bay – with the sweetener of some European Central Bank (ECB) support, for as long as Berlin allows the ECB to provide it.

R.T. Erdogan as an Example of a Charismatic Politician

The article examines the process of formation of identity of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – a charismatic leader, an adept of “moderate Islamism” one of the founders of the Justice and Development Party. Historically strong centralized authority was always normal for Turkey and the need for Turks in the charismatic leaders is evident even at the present time. Erdogan is stubborn and consistent, thanking to religious education in his family and in religious Lyceum Imam Hatib. He was always religious and since his student years, joined Islamic politicians. In his student years he became the head of the Istanbul Youth organization of the Islamist National Salvation Party, in whose ranks and files he received good practice of a political organizer. The crisis in the ranks of the Islamists after repeated bans of the Islamist party led to a split in its ranks and Erdogan and his associates established the Justice and Development Party (AKP). Creating the AKP, Erdogan and his colleagues received a very important support from the well-known Muslim preacher, writer and philosopher Fethullah Gülen living in Pennsylvania (USA). The political support of Gülen who has millions of followers in Turkey and a well-organized educational system of the “Hizmet” Movement operating not only in Turkey but also in 140 countries helped the AKP to win the elections to the Turkish Parliament. Numerous graduates of private schools, colleges and universities of F. Gülen has occupied leading positions in business, police, juridical structures and the armed forces of Turkey and became supporters of Erdogan. Economic reforms of the AKP has substantially strengthened the Turkish economy, increased the income of the population and managed to cope successfully with inflation. On this ground Erdogan’s credibility consequently grew in the face of voters who saw him a successful leader and skilled politician. However, Erdogan gradually returned to the daily life of Turks the Islamic religion, which caused discontent among the supporters of secular development of the country. Repeated attempts to remove the AKP from power were not successful. Using strong support from F. Gülen’s structures in the judiciary, Erdogan managed to organize high-profile lawsuits against the army leadership, politicians, and journalists – supporters of secular development of the country. In a popular referendum, the army was excluded from influence on the political system of the country. However, constant criticism of the policies of Erdogan from the side of F. Gülen led to the crisis of union between the two leaders. Using the failed coup attempt Erdogan accused in its organization Fethullah Gülen and began a wide crackdown against his supporters.

Contagion in the European Union: An Analysis of the Channels of Transmission


 This study analyzes contagion from the global financial crisis that began in August 2007 to the European Union (EU) crisis and uses a statistical approach to determine which channels were, and still are, important for contagion transmission in the European crisis. A logit regression is used to statistically determine which common contagion channels - trade linkages, the common creditor, portfolio investors and macroeconomic fundamentals – transmitted infection among the 27 EU countries. The results show that the macroeconomic fundamentals channel is the most important channel and specifically high levels of government and private debt along with a large current account deficit are the most important determinants of contagion. Additionally, the results suggest that the European crisis is at root a balance of payments crisis. Finally, the results predict that the country, beyond those that have already received assistance form the EU, ECB and IMF, that is most vulnerable to further contagion is Malta.

Federalism: is it the solution to the European Union crisis? A Portuguese view

Federalism: is it the solution to the European Union crisis? A Portuguese view

In Unions We Trust! Analysing Confidence in Unions across Europe

AbstractPublic institutions and trade unions in particular are often portrayed as facing a deep crisis. In order to better understand to what extent unions are still perceived as legitimate institutions from the society as a whole (working and non‐working individuals), we analyse the determinants of confidence in unions across 14 European countries between 1981 and 2009. Confidence in unions is explained through individual‐level variables (by a rational and an ideational mechanism) and contextual‐level factors (relevant economic and employment relations characteristics). Using data from the European Values Study (EVS) merged with contextual datasets, we develop a series of regression models to examine the main determinants of confidence in unions. We demonstrate that confidence in unions cannot only be traced back to the support from members and left‐wing oriented individuals but it is also related to non‐working individuals and vulnerable social groups, in particular when confronted with economic shocks. Our findings challenge both the ‘crisis of confidence’ in institutions and the ‘crisis of unionism’ narratives. Implications for union representation and organizing strategies are discussed.

Current Geodemographic Problems in the European Union and Migration Crisis of the 2010s

Current Geodemographic Problems in the European Union and Migration Crisis of the 2010s

Resisting neo-liberalism, reclaiming democracy? 21st-century organised labour beyond Polanyi and Streeck

AbstractDespite its greatly weakened condition, could organised labour again be counter-hegemonic to and ultimately transformative of capitalism? Or is the current crisis, a crisis of collapse of manufacturing and wages and under-consumption due to the loss of redistributive power by key socio-political agents, possibly the final crisis of unionism, as argued by Wolfgang Streeck? Some on the political left, such as Streeck, argue that a new phase has been reached where redistributive and oppositional power of organised labour has been not just defeated but destroyed, with enormous consequences for the future of workers and capitalism itself. This article rejects such an overly pessimistic interpretation and asks what the possibility is of the labour movement’s again playing its historic role of transforming capitalism. It explores the potential role of organised labour in re-embedding the economy within democratic society, as Karl Polanyi argued, and building a socio-economic structure that is both stable and enhancing of social and environmental health. This problem is approached through a critique of the theories of Polanyi and Streeck and an examination of the unfortunate embrace of labourism and accommodation to neo-liberalism in the Australian labour movement.

Libya and Syria: Inserting the European Neighbourhood Policy in the European Union’s Crisis Response Cycle

Fostering peace and stability has been a key aim of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), but its effective impact on conflicts has been marginal. This article analyses the ENP’s security dimension through the conceptual prism of coherence. As a policy cutting across functional domains and governance levels the ENP faces horizontal and vertical coherence challenges. The empirical analysis focuses on two cases lying at the intersection of the ENP and comprehensive European Union (EU) crisis management: the EU’s responses to the Syrian and Libyan conflicts between 2011 and 2016. The analysis shows that the EU has gradually redirected ENP funds to short-term security- and migration-related goals. However, the EU has failed to ensure vertical coherence in the field of high politics. The externalities of the Libyan and Syrian conflicts might foster national preference convergence and thereby increase vertical coherence. While this should strengthen the ENP’s security dimension, the risk is that the policy’s distinct character as a tool for structural conflict prevention is diluted within an ever broadening comprehensive approach that focuses on conflict symptoms rather than root causes.

Union Solidarity in Eastern and Central Europe from the Example of Poland

This study examines the extent of union solidarity in post-communist European countries using the example of Poland. It shows the process of the transition of trade unions from being mass organisations with a mandate from the state to voluntary organisations defending employees’ rights and interests within the social dialogue with the state and employers. It argues that the current legal regulations of decentralised institutions in Polish and other Eastern and Central European countries impede union solidarity. The reasons behind the crisis of trade unions are numerous and complex. They have been seen especially in the changes of the structures of enterprises, from large state-owned entities to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It can also be seen in the use of collective bargaining policies and the role of the state in industrial relations. It examines the role of non-union representations on the labour market and their chances of replacing trade unions or cooperating with them. The paper concludes that instead of searching for unlikely solutions to change the model of bargaining or replacing trade unions with other forms of employee representations, solutions in favour of strengthening the social position of trade unions through improving the existing trade unions' legal framework should be sought. Key words: trade union, union solidarity, multi-enterprises, globalisation, post-communist countries .

Searching for a Nuclear Settlement. European Union Nuclear Settlement With Iran

In the article is analyzed European Union crisis diplomacy with Iran, which finally brought to the final settlements. Beside the nuclear issues, in EU and Iran relations are visible other issues, as such as: human rights, security, energy and trade. In the 90’s and 2000’s EU proposed the formula critical and comprehensive dialogue. Now after nuclear settlement, crisis diplomacy with Iran is essential, due to the problems and challenges related with internal Iranian politics and its regional policy.

Migration activity and adaptation of Russian regional populations

The article assesses the dynamics of migration effectiveness by Russian regions over a long time period. Russian and foreign studies have found that people with migration experience change their place of residence more easily compared with those who have never moved. Migrants are divided into two main types, namely, newcomers and long-time residents who have lived in a migration destination for a long time, and a transitional type from newcomers to long-time residents. Moscow, St. Petersburg, and their oblasts are subjects where migrants adapt the best. For a long time, in most Far Eastern and Siberian subjects (except for the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug), the large number of arriving migrants were compensated by large number of migrants who departed a region. The collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent socioeconomic crisis have shown that population outflow occurs primarily in regions with the highest share of new settlers. Attempts to force the development of areas with harsh natural conditions and low adaptation by the population led to a massive return migration. Ensuring the adaptation of new settlers and their transition to long-time residents, rather than a high number of arrivals, is important for regional migration policy. Adaptation largely depends on the level of socioeconomic development of regions and particular localities.

Las implicaciones constitucionales de la crisis: una reseña de la literatura reciente

El objetivo de este artículo es ofrecer una panorámica de la literatura más relevante sobre las implicaciones constitucionales derivadas de la crisis de la Unión europea (UE). Mi análisis explora las principales opiniones doctrinales sobre las mutaciones de la estructura constitucional de la Unión producidas por la crisis. Con este propósito el término «mutación constitucional» no debe entenderse como una completa ruptura con el pasado y de hecho a lo largo de este artículo trataré de enfatizar las continuidades y interrupciones en la visión tradicional del proceso de constitucionalización de la UE.

Internal Crisis of Compound Polities: Understanding the EU’s Crisis in Light of the Ex-Yugoslav Federation’s Failure

The paper draws on a particular conceptual framework for the interpretation of the current European Union (EU) crisis. Famously, the EU has been classified as an organization existing in between or beyond the modern state and international organizations. The constitutionally undefined political aim of the EU contributes mostly to its vague classification. Nevertheless, the escalation of the Eurozone crisis has revealed the inherent relation between the politically unfinished design of the EU and the inability of its actors to confront the major social and economic challenges of today. This paper argues that this systemic failure of the EU replicates another historical example, the Yugoslav federation. Beyond substantial differences between the two, there is an important similarity. They both have, embedded in their very nature, the character of an unfinished political construction. Furthermore, both the EU and Yugoslavia followed the same path from an emancipative process of federalism to an existential crisis, both moving from legitimate to very questionable polity.