Common Sense about the Common Market : Germany and Britain in Post-War Europe

The Common Market between France, Western Germany, Italy and the ‘Benelux’ counties was not merely a reshuffle of tariff rates and trade agreements, but a political mile-stone in post-war history. Originally published in 1958, this book surveys the pre-history of the Common Market from the German Zollverein to the abortive customs union with Austria in 1931 and traces its roots amongst the tangled post-war politics of occupied Germany, the Ruhr Authority and the Coal and Steel pool. The book provides a summary of post-war economic developments in Europe and examines the guiding principles of the famous Spaak Report, comparing it with the text of the Rome Treaty. Finally the book deals with the challenge of the new developments to Great Britain. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Original Title Original Copyright Preface Contents I. Free Trade, Multilateralism and Common Market II. The Common Market in German History 1. The Zollverein 2. Mitteleuropa 3. The Abortive Customs Union of 1931 4. The Changing Forms of German Expansionism III. Germany's Economic Re-Assertion 1. The Nazi heritage 2. Partition 3. The American Protectorate 4. The German 'Oportunity State' IV. Germany's Place in Europe 1. The Ruhr-Arsenal or Power House? 2. The European Coal and Steel Community V. The Common Market Plan 1. From Messina to Brussels 2. Blueprint of a European Economy 3. Duel by Negotiation VI. The Common Market Treaty 1. Principles and Organization 2. Policy 3. Institutions and General Dispositions VII. The Treaty and the Future 1. The Economic Implications of the Common Market 2. Europe at the Cross Roads? VIII. Great Britain in Search of Lesser Evils 1. Britain's European Dilemma 2. Common Market and Free Trade Area 3. Is there an Alternative? IX. Britain, Germany and Europe Postscript Index