Europe
| Published date | 01 September 2010 |
| Date | 01 September 2010 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1478-9302.2010.00217_6.x |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
E U R O P E
tendency towards an assumption ‘that devolution had
Europe
no predecessor institutions and that the politics of
devolution can be understood without any historical
Where Have All the Fascists Gone? by Tamir
background’ (p. 13).
Bar-On. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007. 252pp, £55.00,
In the second part of the text, the contemporary
978 0 7546 7154 1
devolved systems are considered. Mitchell’s approach
recognises that the formal institutions do not operate
The European New Right (ENR) is a cultural school
in isolation and the discussion addresses, therefore,
of thought with origins in the French and Italian
‘whether the inexplicit principles of the customary
extreme right of the post-war era. Its undisputed
constitution remain, whether they have been altered
leader is the French intellectual Alan de Benoist, while
or whether new competing principles now operate’
other leading members include Marco Tarchi and
(p. 13).The author finds that while new principles have
Charles Charpentier. This study traces the philosophi-
emerged they operate with the ‘old established prin-
cal, political and historical trajectories of the ENR,
ciples of the customary constitution’ (p. 13). The study
which was born in France in 1968 and which from the
also draws attention to the impact of England on the
beginning has situated itself – in a Gramscian mould –
territorial governance of the UK both in terms of
exclusively on the cultural terrain of political contes-
its size and perceptions of the English experience. In
tation to challenge the cultural hegemony of liberalism
addition, Mitchell identifies two important pressures
and Marxism.
affecting the territorial distribution of governmental
Tamir Bar-On details some of the ENR’s key ideas,
functions. First, attempts to recognise distinctiveness in
which include the right to difference, organic com-
Scotland and Wales are contrasted with ‘the near eradi-
munity, direct democracy and the empire. The ENR
cation of regional and local autonomy’ (p. 14) in
advocates a heterogeneous world of homogenous
England. Second, Mitchell mentions social and eco-
peoples, each rooted in their own culture and terri-
nomic pressures and consequential changes in the con-
tory. For the ENR, every people has a droit à la
sensus about the role of government. In conclusion, the
différence: that is, the right to pursue their destiny in
author draws parallels with European integration to
accordance with their specific culture. The community
suggest that the UK is evolving towards an ‘ever looser
is another key concept of the ENR and it is posited
union’ (p. 236), an imprecise term that is hardly the
as a model of social organisation against both globali-
intention of devolution but could be its consequence.
sation and consumerism – De Benoist has written on
This is a fascinating book from a recognised authority
participatory democracy and advanced the proposition
in the field which places contemporary devolution in a
that the referendum is a key tool for breaking dead-
coherent and historical framework and thus enhances
lock and reaching political decisions in highly party-
our knowledge by approaching a much-researched
centred polities.
subject from a distinctive viewpoint.This text should be
For the ENR there are only two possible models for
purchased by university libraries intending to construct
the construction of Europe: the empire and the nation
a serious collection on UK devolution and will prove
state. While the latter is predicated on a centralised
valuable to academics, students and the more perceptive
model of government, the empire seems to be the only
general reader. It is a significant achievement.
model which can reconcile the many cultures of
Europe. It is the only political institution which can
Michael Cole
organise the organic unity of its different components
(University of Liverpool)
while respecting their autonomy. The ENR is also
anti-capitalist, and places a higher value on culture and
identity than it does on economics. Bar-On’s main
We welcome short reviews of books in all areas of
argument is that the ENR’s core principles are an
politics and international relations. For guidelines
ambiguous synthesis of the ideals of the extreme right
on submitting reviews, and to see an up-to-date
and the New Left. He also argues that the ENR’s ideas
listing of books available for review, please visit
in opposition to capitalism and globalisation and in
http://www.politicalstudiesreview.org/.
support of organic communities, cultural preservation,
© 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Political Studies Association
Political Studies Review: 2010, 8(3)
B O O K R E V I E W S
427
and socio-economic solidarity can make further inroads
trichotomy: the activism of young party members, the
within Europe and beyond.
way in which this changes their lives and how the
The book is well written and the main topics are
perception of their influence within the party differs.
well researched. However, there are also some flaws. For
Two types of propeller lead to the enrolment of young-
example, the author dedicates a few chapters to the
sters in political parties: the long-term willingness to
intellectual debate between the ENR and the Ameri-
get involved vs. the critical juncture moment that
can New Left journal Telos. While he details some of
determines a sudden wish to join forces. Variation
the key issues of this debate, he fails to identify the
occurs between political systems and parties when
central area of agreement between these two cultural
young members are asked to see policy priorities and
currents, which actually converge against the contem-
prospective perceptions of their future.
porary trend of technocratic ‘big government’. Overall
Displaying a clear style and sound analysis (based on
this is an important contribution on an innovative
a survey with 3,000 young members and 500 in-depth
current of political thought.
interviews), this volume provides a major contribution
both at the theoretical and empirical levels. Situated at
Paolo Morisi
the crossroads of party politics and political socialisation
(Independent Scholar)
and participation, the book advances a new model of
young party membership beginning from motivations.
The Future of our Democracies: Young Party
At the empirical level, the numerous substantive results
Members in Europe by Michael Bruter and Sarah
are complemented by a large database. With a primary
Harrison.
Basingstoke:
Palgrave,
2009.
250pp.,
audience consisting of scholars and students of party
£60.00, ISBN 978 0 230 21973 1
politics, the volume also provides valuable tips to party
Contemporary European party politics witnesses low
leaders and human resource recruiters. Thus, by suc-
involvement of citizens. During the most recent
cessfully achieving its goal, the book becomes both a
decades there have been severe drops in party mem-
reference for further research and a source for informed
bership for Western parties, and the post-communist
intra-party decision making.
region has been characterised by low membership rates
Sergiu Gherghina
since the fall of the previous regime. As core institu-
(University of Leiden)
tions of representative democracy, political parties
should avoid losing traditional ties with society. Michael
Ideas, Institutions and Trade: The WTO and the
Bruter and Sarah Harrison’s book approaches this topic
Curious Role of EU Farm Policy in Trade
from the perspective of young members, aiming to
Liberalization by Carsten Daugbjerg and Alan
identify their motivations for joining political parties
Swinbank. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.
and their expectations, profile and perceptions of poli-
232pp., £45.00, ISBN 978 0 19 955775 2
tics. In doing so, six political systems – in France,
Germany, Hungary, Norway, Spain and the UK – are
The declared aim of this book, a collaborative endeav-
considered, from which fifteen major political parties
our between Carsten Daugbjerg, a political scientist,
are selected to cover the entire ideological space.
and Alan Swinbank, an agricultural economist, is to
The volume is efficiently structured in nine chapters,
explain the pivotal role of agriculture, especially the
with
the
first
and
last
acting
as
introduction
EU’s stance on farm policy, in international trade rela-
and conclusion, proceeding from the theoretical and
tions. The common agricultural policy (CAP) of the
methodological components (including typology and
EU has often been the cause of conflict and a clash of
six hypotheses to be tested) to the substantive findings.
interests in multilateral trade negotiations. The authors,
The latter indicate that young party members are
however, clearly distinguish between conflict over spe-
mainly driven by moral (40 per cent) rather than social
cific commitments – such as disputes over tariffs and
(34 per cent) or professional (26 per cent) incentives
subsidies – and conflicts between trading partners over
when participating in political activities. Each chapter is
the actual special treatment of this economic sector.
dedicated to different components of the subject matter
The idea of treating agricultural policy differently is
being investigated. The analysis is based on an initial
known as agricultural exceptionalism, which the EU
© 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Political Studies Association
Political Studies Review: 2010, 8(3)
428
E U R O P E
has sought to change through various CAP reforms. By
...
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