Reforming Europe: The Role of the Centre-Right (The Konstantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy Series on European and International Affairs)

In the 2009 elections, the European centre-right emerged victorious, thus affirming its political domination in contemporary European politics. The aim of this book is not to provide an analysis of the factors that contributed to the EPP’s political prevalence. Instead, it is to help this large political family maintain its vigour of political thought and policy prescriptions. The book provides a forum for prominent centre-right thinkers to debate the major European problems of our times, with particular emphasis on the management of the financial crisis and the next institutional steps regarding the European integration project. It assembles the views of politicians, academics and think-tank fellows from different national backgrounds and dissimilar ideological perspectives (Christian Democrats, conservatives and neo-liberals) who unfold their vision for Europe’s future. Moreover, it reflects the origins of contemporary European centre-right parties in order to reaffirm the core values and main priorities that have historically informed their policies. Overall, the book attempts to both highlight and stimulate the centre-right contribution to the discussion of Europe’s main contemporary challenges. Introduction / Constantine Arvanitopoulos And Nikolaos Tzifakis -- The History And Foundations Of European Integration : A Contribution To The Debate On The Future Of The Union / José M. De Areilza -- The Centre-right For A New Europe / Jean-dominique Giuliani -- Knowledge : The Foundation For A Stronger Europe / Ján Figel' -- The Epp's Role During The European Electoral Campaigns In 2004 And 2009 / Alain Lamassoure -- Society, Values, Politics : Reflections On The Basic Dilemmas Of European Society And The Demand For Moral Choices / Jos. J.a.m. Van Gennip -- Conservative Challenges / Torbjørn Røe Isaksen -- Looking For The Causes And Consequences Of The Global Financial And Banking Crisis : Neo-liberalism In The Dock / Risto Harisalo -- Pragmatism, Not The Market : On The Politico-economic Division Of Labour / Kostas A. Lavdas -- The Eu Needs A Social Market Economy, Now More Than Ever / Stefano Riela -- The Strong State Paradigm : Good Government And The State In Central And Eastern Europe--why Do We Need A Stronger State? / Gábor G. Fodor -- The European Centre-right And European Integration : The Formative Years / Konstantina E. Botsiou -- The Emergence Of A New European Centre-right, 1945-1962 / Evanthis Hatzivassiliou -- The Origins And Foundation Of The New Democratic Party / Ioannis Filandros -- Sense And Sensibility : Eu Eastern Enlargement And The Future Of Europe's Centre-right / Roland Freudenstein -- Left And Right In Slovenian Political Life And Public Discourse / Matej Makarovič And Matevž Tomšič. Constantine Arvanitopoulos, Editor. Joint Publication Of The Centre For European Studies And The Constantinos Karamanlis Institute For Democracy. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xxiii Introduction....Pages 1-7 The History and Foundations of European Integration: A Contribution to the Debate on the Future of the Union....Pages 9-21 The Centre-Right for a New Europe....Pages 23-36 Knowledge: The Foundation for a Stronger Europe....Pages 37-52 The EPP’s Role during the European Electoral Campaigns in 2004 and 2009....Pages 53-70 Society, Values, Politics: Reflections on the Basic Dilemmas of European Society and the Demand for Moral Choices....Pages 71-91 Conservative Challenges....Pages 93-104 Looking for the Causes and Consequences of the Global Financial and Banking Crisis: Neo-Liberalism in the Dock....Pages 105-117 Pragmatism, Not the Market: On the Politico-Economic Division of Labour....Pages 119-136 The EU Needs a Social Market Economy, Now More Than Ever....Pages 137-151 The ‘Strong State’ Paradigm: Good Government and the State in Central and Eastern Europe – Why Do We Need a Stronger State?....Pages 153-172 The European Centre-Right and European Integration: The Formative Years....Pages 173-206 The Emergence of a New European Centre-Right, 1945–1962....Pages 207-222 The Origins and Foundation of the New Democracy Party....Pages 223-238 Sense and Sensibility: EU Eastern Enlargement and the Future of Europe’s Centre-Right....Pages 239-258 ‘Left’ and ‘Right’ in Slovenian Political Life and Public Discourse....Pages 259-277 Back Matter....Pages 279-290