Bibliography - A Selection
| Date | 01 June 1961 |
| Published date | 01 June 1961 |
| DOI | 10.1177/002085236102700210 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
BIBLIOGRAPHY - A SELECTION
BOOKS
institution of the Council of Europe and the pre-
paration of the Atlantic Treaty.
- Albertini,
Mario, Lo Stato nazionale.
Subsequent chapters examine the problem of
Milan, Giuffri, 1960. 152 pages, Lit.1000.
national policies, the development of the little
Europe of the « Six between 19 S 0 and 19 S S,
A contribution to the theory of the State,
the attempts made at Messina and Brussels to
considered from the point of view of national
give new impetus to a European policy, the oppo-
character.
The subject is rather difficult to
sition to that movement and the division of
define, as it is connected with the idea of a
Europe into two groups which are then examined
nation.
separately. In fact, it is in the Europe of the
The book is
« Six that the
a political and historical study and
greatest strides have been made
is partly centred
towards a
on an analysis of the changing
co-operation which, however douse, is
notion of national character.
Europe alone is
being found laborious in many ways.
taken as the background and an impressive num-
Is Mr. Albonetti’s optimism justified? One
ber of problems are summarily examined. The
would like to be able to conclude that all the
governing idea is that States are political con-
countries of Western Europe will in future co-
structions mainly conditioned by historical events
operate more extensively. But the obstacles are
preceding the birth of a real national or com-
tremendous and caution should be exercised in
munity consciousness which arises when States
drawing conclusions. It would be so much easier
become firmly established. This theory seems to
if everything turned out as one hoped, and a long
contradict the nationalist movements which led,
struggle will doubtless be necessary before an
for instance, to the unity of Germany and Italy.
~ historical p era is reached.
The author is aware
But the contradiction is only apparent and the
of that point, and his optimism is thus tinged
theory shows the possible growth of a cnational-
with realism. That attitude is, perhaps, an ex-
feeling in a unified Europe.
cellent one for working toward broader solutions.
It must be admitted that the author’s position
is not always quite clear. Certain distinctions
- Ambrosini, Gaspare, L’ordinamento regio-
are difficult to grasp because they are bound up
nale - La riforma regionale nella Costitu-
with involved and sometimes irrelevant conside-
zione I taliana. Bologne, Zanichelli, 19 S 7.
rations.
An unusual study in more ways than
190 pages, Lit.1600.
one.
Title V of the Italian Constitution is the cul-
mination of prolonged labour and lively contro-
- Albonetti, Achille, Preistoria degli Stati
versy between the supporters of a strongly cen-
Uniti d’Europa. Milan, Giuffrè, 1960.
tralized State and those of a large measure of de-
336 pages, Lit.1800.
centralization of powers or even of what would
have amounted to federalism.
The title of the book is pleasantly optimistic.
The author has no misgivings about the future
Professor Ambrosini took a leading part in the
unity of Europe. His comprehensive and well-
movement by advocating, as early as 1933, a re-
documented historical account describes how the
gional organization similar to that at present
idea was born, and how it slowly spread and pro-
adopted by the Constitution.
duced its first practical results which augur
This volume rearranges and co-ordinates var-
more definite achievements.
ious texts which are ’landmarks in the author’s
Its growth may really be said to have started
thinking and in the progress of events.
after the Second World War, although it may
The book as a whole is undoubtedly of the
be traced back earlier.
greatest interest for readers concerned with re-
Co-operation was initially on a large scale and
gional organization and, more generally, with
a long chapter is devoted to the establishment of
decentralization and the autonomy of local insti-
OEEC, and another to the Brussels Treaty, the
tutions.
196
- Amonn, Alfred, Wirtscbaftsfiolitik in der
that the factors involved are too complex for the
Scbweiz in kritischer sicht. Berne, Stämp-
point of view of the corporations to be sufficient
fli, 19 S 9. 301 pages, Sw.Frs.27. S 0.
by itself. The facts must be viewed as part of
social development. And, in that field, crystal-
A broad survey of a little-known subject. Eco-
gazing might be the only answer.
nomic policy calls for innumerable considerations
and has multitudinous implications. Some ap-
- Attlee, The Rt. Hon. Earl, Empire into
proach has to be adopted, and Professor Amonn’s
Commonwealth. London, Oxford Univer-
is one of constructive criticism in that he suggests
sity Press, 1961. 54 pages, 7/6.
certain solutions and remedies for situations
which should, in his opinion, be
The four Chichele Historical Lectures deliver-
put right.
ed in May 1960 on Changes in the Conception
After a general description of his country’s
and Structure of the British Empire during the
economy, the main points he studies are policy as
last half-century.
regards prices and salaries, home trade including
Although they are
trusts and monopolies, the trade cycle and
very short, they are attract-
cre-
ive
dit, agriculture, housing, and finance.
as a first-hand account of a political experi-
ment, which is taken to begin in 1897, by the
His observations are searching though some-
United Kingdom.
times controversial.
The fact that emerges is
The
that,
Empire was then at its height, controlled
even if Switzerland is a prosperous country
with
a quarter of the world and checked the expansion
a sound economy, various steps might be
of
taken
foreign
to improve its position.
powers. The South African War, by
making Britain highly unpopular, was the begin-
A good example of a monograph of undoubted
ning of the end of imperialism and led to a
interest from the administrative point of view.
gradual process of transformation, which Lord
Attlee very neatly outlines, into the present
- Anshen, Melvin &
Bach, G.L. (Editors),
Commonwealth.
Management and Corporations 1985. Lon-
This historical account, written with great
don, McGraw-Hill, 1960. vii & 253 pages,
serenity and rare objectivity, is presented in a
43/-
light which augurs well for the future of the
Commonwealth in
It is always dangerous
spite of the difficulties occa-
to try to foretell the
future, but this
sionally encountered with some of its Members.
experiment, made by a Sympo-
Lord Attlee seems implicitly to trust the
sium
spirit
at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, is
of
rather
democracy, the principle of equality on which
interesting and worthwhile. It may, in-
the institutional links
deed, be wondered what will become of
depend, the common lan-
corpora-
tions during the
guage and even culture, and the common interest
next twenty-five years, by whom
to ensure a
and how they will be managed.
continuity that is essential in the
world of today.
The present technical revolution, the progress
of automation and the slow adaptation of men
- Aylmer, G.E., The King’s Servants - The
and enterprises to change enable forecasts to be
Civil Service of Charles I, 162 S -42. Lon-
made on the general lines indicated in the con-
don, Routledge &
Kegan Paul, 1961. xii
tributions to this volume, even though inevitable
&
S 21 pages, S 6/-
trends may not be deduced.
It is heartening to note that the number of
The question is one of vital importance and
administrative studies of an historical nature is
deserves meditation.
constantly increasing. For Great Britain, gen-
Among the papers presented, those by Herbert
eral works are already available and Mr. Aylmer’s
A. Simon and Robert Merton stress the techno-
monograph comes at the right time to supple-
logical, sociological and human aspects of the
ment our information on the
comparatively
corporations of the future that will remain man-
recent origins of the Civil Service.
managed, in spite of increasing recourse to ma-
This is a most scholarly book which succeeds
chines that will remove clerical and low-level
very well in reconstructing the administrative
management from the day-to-day activity. The
and sociological atmosphere of the period -
papers are generally cheerful, although they point
which is essential to form an accurate opinion.
out the principal perturbing factors.
The author reveals a few important features of
Of course, between now and 198 S, new polit-
the previous evolution and deals with his subject
ical, social, economic or technical data may crop
in five substantial chapters. The first outlines
up and frustrate our present calculation.
Any
the central government under Charles I, the
conclusion reached should therefore be viewed
second deals with conditions of entry and ser-
with reservations, since it should not be forgotten
vice, and the other three discuss the payment of
197
officers, who the King’s servants were from the
- Bloemers,
H.W., Decentralisatie -
-
De
point of view of social history, and office and
taakverdeling tussen rijk, provincie en
politics.
gemeente. The Hague, GIDOR, 1960. 47
The conclusions, which are both thought-
pages, mimeographed.
provoking and interesting, place the period in its
To what extent should local autonomy be used
chronological perspective in the course of En-
to counterbalance the centralizing tendency in
glish administrative history, compare the English
the administrative organization of the State?
civil service with that...
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