Alan Dignam and Michael Galanis, The Globalisation of Corporate Governance, Farnham: Ashgate Publishing, 2009, 433 pp, hb £75.00.
| Author | Marc Moore |
| Published date | 01 November 2011 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2230.2011.00882.x |
| Date | 01 November 2011 |
and promotion of the ‘proper balance’ between the Union’s ethical principles,
which restricts any potential undue religious influence on law, politics and its
public sphere. McCrae’s account helps characterise the EU as a form of militant
democracy, which guards itself with clear constitutional, legislative and political
measures against the threats from both ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ religions; as evi-
denced by the fact that ‘proper balance’ between religious, humanist and cultural
influences, is entrenched in the symbolic, constitutional values of the Union;
facilitated in its institutional and decision-making processes; and further protected
in its substantive legislation and jurisprudence.
To conclude, Religion and the Public Order of the European Union is an engaging
book which gives an incisive examination of the place of religion in the
European public order and helps to define the nature of the EU as a polity.
McCrae’s exploration emphasises the reciprocal nature of the exchange,for just
as religion may affect the Union public order, so does the EU’s approach to
religion and its place in the public sphere shape how religion’s status and
influence are perceived and potentially transformed across the Union. Indeed,
although it finds its inspiration from the traditions of the Member States, the EU
has always endeavoured to enhance its autonomy and develop its very own
identity, as can be seen by its ‘community-based’definition of worker for instance,
or its recently found legal personality, its new Council president or its minister for
Foreign Affairs and Security, even if being neither a (super-)state nor a federation
presents undeniable challenges.
Overall, the seven chapters of this book are organised logically and written
coherently. McCrae’s examination of the relationship between religion and the
EU public order is conducted in a perceptive, resourceful and proficient manner.
Indeed, he combines an otherwise byzantine maze of intertwining principles,
relations and sources into a skilfully lucid account. Ultimately,the book provides
specialists and students working in the area of law and religion with a structured
map to an intricate landscape, and as such an essential addition to a growing field
of academic research.
Alexandra Pimor*
Alan Dignam and Michael Galanis, The Globalisation of Corporate Governance,
Farnham: Ashgate Publishing, 2009, 433 pp, hb £75.00.
There are few areas of legal scholarship more in need of revitalisation than
comparative corporate governance.What was once a rich and topical source of
insight has become tired,a f act not helped by the staunchly Anglo-Saxon impetus
of much of the leading literature.For this reason, it is understandable that another
contribution to the debate might be greeted with some initial apprehension by
those familiar with the area. However, the rich contextual fabric and counter-
polemical stance of this book marks it out as a constructive and refreshing
*School of Law, Liverpool John Moores University
Reviews
© 2011 TheAuthors. The Modern Law Review © 2011The Modern Law Review Limited. 977(2011) 74(6) MLR 974–989
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