About
Given the current state of the EU, it can be concluded that the EU Member States are not yet prepared to move beyond theirs national interests, and invest their energies in the interest of the EU. So, the need for applying of a new integration concept is more than necessary. Because, is more than obvious, that the modern reasoning of the EU Member States gradually destroys the great idea of European unification.
One of the most popular approaches towards the “revolutionizing” of the EU is the concept of avant-garde Europe, predominantly promoted by Joschka Fischer, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Jacques Delors etc. This approach directly derives from the Kerneuropa concept (Core Europe), meaning that the future of the EU should be established on the scheme of core (avant-garde) and orbit. The core would need to be founded by those EU Member States who are most prepared and interested in European integration, and the orbit, would be constituted only by those EU Member States, who are not prepared, or do not want to involve themselves into a deeper European integration. The core Member States would develop single and coherent foreign policy, and thus, playing the role of an avant-garde of the European integration. The others would join them when willing or able to do so. The core will create a federation, and the orbit, an association. But they will continue to communicate and co-operate between each other, on a certain issues. This concept has many terms and labels, or as authors Funda Tekin and Prof. Dr Wolfgang Wesseles emphasized: the best-known terms have been ‘Core Europe’, ‘avant-garde, ‘centre of gravity’, and ‘directoire’, but these represent only an excerpt from a broad catalogue of such concepts” (Tekin and Wessels 2008, 1). Although “often used synonymously, these terms imply different forms of integration, with politically very different consequences for the EU and its Member States” (Ondarza 2013, 7).
As is stated by Joschka Fischer, the “only possibility is a European avant-garde, a group of EU countries willing and able to advance. The willing and able participate, but the others shall not block progress anymore” (Fischer 2008). The avant-garde, will be “decisive factor in driving forward the integration process, which will finally culminate in a European federation” (A Core, Avant-garde or Centre of Gravity).
The former President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, goes more ahead with his thinking about the avant-garde Europe, urging for establishment of a “Great Europe”. The “Great Europe”, according to Delors would need to: “provide its members with an area of active peace, a framework of sustainable development and, lastly, an area of shared values lived out in the diversity of our cultures and our traditions” (Pusca 2004, 131). In an institutional sense the avant-garde Europe: "would take the form of a federation of nation - states with its two dimensions: federal, for clarifying powers and responsibilities; national, for ensuring the durability and cohesion of our societies and our nations. This would of course be an application of the healthy principle of subsidiarity. The link with the Great Union would be ensured with the existence of a joint Commission, responsible for coherence between the two entities and for compliance with EU regulations and acquis communautaire [and acquis politique]. The avant-garde, however, would have its own Council of Ministers and its own Parliament" (Pusca 2004). Namely, the “center” (or the “core”) Member States “would conclude a new European framework treaty, the nucleus of a constitution of the Federation (…) The Federation would develop its own institutions, establish a government which within the EU should speak with one voice on behalf of the members of the group on as many issues as possible, a strong parliament and a directly elected president” (Pusca 2004, 132). The avant-garde group of Member States is “‘not élitist’ but rather stands for and allows ‘reinforced co-operation’.” (Delors 2001, 3). The main idea is that the members of a smaller group would be both able and willing to go ahead immediately, while this would not be possible for all. Or as the former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher emphasized: “no Member State can be forced to go further than it is able or willing to go, but that those who do not want to go any further shall not prevent others from doing so” (Fischer 2000, 9). Considering the current state of the EU, it can be stressed that the future upgrades of the EU should be directed towards the creation of avant-garde Europe, as most possible and logical direction, taking into account the current (internal or external) differences between the EU Member States, and their attitude towards the EU future.
Suggested topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. The meaning of European federalism and its variants
2. The axiological power of the European integration
3. Disagreements about the European political unification idea
4. Double-speed Europe, Multi-speed Europe and Core Europe
5. Postnationalism, postmodernism and the European Union
6. The European Union as a global actor in the XXI century
7. The European Union between liberty and autocracy
8. The avant-garde Europe: models and perspectives
Submission Procedure:
- The authors are invited to submit, on or before September 20, 2016, a chapter proposal (1-3 pages, including references).
- Chapter proposals should be sent as an Email attachment to contact@e-jlia.com with ‘Chapter proposal’ in the subject line.
- The authors of accepted proposals will be notified by October 10, 2016 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines.
- Full chapters, ranging from 8000 to 10,000 words each including title, abstract, manuscript, and references, are expected to be submitted by December 20, 2016.
- The authors should follow Chicago Style (author-date system) for referencing, for example: (Dahl 1989, 45); (Geddes 1999, 134-43); (Linz 1975).
- The authors should submit a separate title page with contact information and short biography (max. 200 words) via Email: contact@e-jlia.com
Disclaimer:
- There are NO submission or publication fees.
- In order to provide visibility of the published work, this eBook will be indexed and abstracted in several academic repositories and search engines.
Important Dates:
September 20, 2016: Proposal Submission Deadline
October 10, 2016: Notification of Acceptance
December 20, 2016: Full Chapter Submission
February 20, 2017: Review and request changes
March 30, 2017: Final Chapter Submission
April, 2017: eBook published
For more information click "Further official information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://e-jlia.com/full-call-for-papers