The Limits of Europeanization: Reform Capacity and Policy Conflict in Greece (Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics)

What are the limits of Europeanization? This book explores the impact of the European Union's agenda of structural reform on Greece. This is a setting that welcomes closer European unity, but which apparently struggles to adapt to the demands of adaptation. The book analyses why the domestic system has so often resisted adaptation in these important economic areas by charting policy initiatives over the last decade on privatization, labour market regulation, and pensions. Its findings raise questions about the scope of the EU to coordinate a programme of economic reform, alongside the inclusion and governability of a system that fails to deliver. How Can The European Union Affect The Reform Of The Economic And Welfare Policies Of Its Member States? What Difference Do The Eu's Mix Of 'hard Law' And 'soft Law' Instruments Make? What Constrains Domestic Adaptation To Such Policies? These General Questions Are Explored In An Innovative Case Study Of One Of The Most Recalcitrant Member States Of The Eu: Greece. Why Has Greece Encountered So Much Difficulty In Adapting To Core Eu Policies, As Well As The Lisbon 2000 Programme? Based On Extensive Empirical Investigation, The Book Explores Three Highly Sensitive Policy Agendas: Pensions; The Labour Market; And, Privatization. It Analyses The Conflicts Over Policy And Process And Considers How Well The Conceptual Frames Of Europeanization And Of 'varieties Of Capitalism' Explain The Constraints On Reform. It Highlights Key Systematic Features Affecting Interests And Representation. These Are Far More Consequential Factors Than Personalities Or Even Party. Greece Faces A Long-term Problem Of Governance.--book Cover. Introduction -- The Europeanization Process And The Greek Political System -- The Domestic Constraints On Reform -- Whose Benefits? : The Elusive Reform Of The Greek Pension System -- The Puzzle Of Jobless Growth : The Challenge Of Reforming The Greek Labour Market -- Destination Nowhere : Restructuring Olympic Airways/airlines -- Conclusions. Kevin Featherstone And Dimitris Papadimitriou. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 222-235) And Index. An innovative case study of one of the most recalcitrant member states of the EU: Greece. Based on extensive empirical research, the book relates its evidence to two major conceptual frames: 'Europeanization' and 'varieties of capitalism'. These are complementary and one compensates for the limitations of the other. How can the European Union affect the reform of the economic and welfare policies of its member states? What difference do the EU's mix of 'hard law' and 'soft law' instruments make? What constrains domestic adaptation to such policies? These general questions are explored in an innovative case study of one of the most recalcitrant member states of the EU: Greece. Why has Greece encountered so much difficulty in adapting to core EU policies, as well as the Lisbon 2000 programme? Based on extensive empirical investigation, the book explores three highly sensitive policy agendas: pensions; the labour market; and, privatization. It analyses the conflicts over policy and process and considers how well the conceptual frames of Europeanization and of 'varieties of capitalism' explain the constraints on reform. It highlights key systematic features affecting interests and representation. These are far more consequential factors than personalities or even party. Greece faces a long-term problem of Governance "Everyone who is puzzled by the political trajectories of European integration and the dilemmas of Greek politics and public policy should read this book. Featherstone and Papadimitriou bring the theoretical framework of Europeanization to bear on the empirical analysis of political change in Greece, covering political structures as well as policy dynamics. Their conclusions will interest all scholars of European integration and comparative public policy, as well as students taking Masters programmes in European Union politics and European politics and society."--Claudio Radaelli, Director, Centre for European Governance, and Jean Monnet Chair in EU Policy Analysis, Exeter University, UK Zbrani prispevki ponujajo bralcu analize primerov evropske zunanje politike na raznih, pogosto tudi zapostavljenih področjih in regijah v svetu. Poskušajo oceniti moč in vpliv Evropske unije v tujini v zadnjih letih, obenem pa analizirati dva v procesu evropske politične integracije jasno opredeljiva nasprotna trenda: politično zbliževanje držav članic in stalnost globokih razlik med nacionalnimi interesi. Pojavnost Evropske unije v svetovnem merilu in značilnosti ter omejitve evropske mednarodne vloge so prikazane v luči mednarodnega sistema, političnih velesil, reševanja političnih sporov in regionalnih politik EU Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Introduction....Pages 1-21 The Europeanization Process and the Greek Political System....Pages 22-38 The Domestic Constraints on Reform....Pages 39-76 Whose Benefits? The Elusive Reform of the Greek Pension System....Pages 77-117 The Puzzle of Jobless Growth: The Challenge of Reforming the Greek Labour Market....Pages 118-152 Destination Nowhere: Restructuring Olympic Airways/Airlines....Pages 153-187 Conclusions....Pages 188-209 Back Matter....Pages 210-247 Offices in Brussels representing the interests of regional actors in the EU have carved out a niche position within Europe's expanding multi-level political system. They are now the most visible indicators of the growing role played by EU regions. How can we understand their contribution to EU governance? What do they deliver to Europe's regions? What will be the future of security cooperation in Europe after the Bush Administration? This work explores security challenges confronting Europe, from relations with the United States and Russia to the use of military force and the struggle against terrorism. It shows that European states will increasingly act alone, independent of America Presents a major empirical study of the domestic impact of the EU's mix of policy instruments: hard law and soft law. This book offers a case study of one of the most recalcitrant member states of the EU: Greece. It relates its evidence to two major conceptual frames: 'Europeanization' and 'varieties of capitalism'