We the Peoples of Europe

11 April 2008

Susan George

A more neo-liberal, anti-democratic document than the EU Constitution, rejected by the French and the Dutch may be hard to imagine, but the new reform treaty tries hard. Susan George explains what is at stake for all peoples of Europe, what must we reject and how will such a document affect our lives?

Is the EU Constitution dead in the water? Although it may have disappeared from the headlines, right-wing European leaders have not given up on pushing through a binding EU text providing total freedom for goods, services and capital but few advantages for Europeans. A more neo-liberal, anti-democratic document than the one rejected by the French and the Dutch may be hard to imagine, but the new reform treaty tries hard. What do they have in store for us? What should European people be fighting for? Leading writer and alter-globalisation activist Susan George explains what is at stake for all peoples of Europe. What must we reject and how will such a document affect our lives? Who will it really empower – corporations or ordinary Europeans? What kind of future do we want to build together as Europeans? Written with clarity and authority and authority, this book will help you make up your mind.

Introduction Timeline

The war on society Accumulating wealth Hatred of democracy Birth of a monster Break the power of the state The true pro-Europeans vs. the elites
They voted yes, or surviving on a diet of humble pie Complexity and disinformation The "Yes" camp on the right The "Yes" camp on the "left" A few leading Socialist lights The Socialist Europ-MPs The European Trade Union Confederation The French Socialist Party brass Another prominent - and snubbed - Socialist
The common good: towards and alternative Europe Plan B and the new Treaty What must we do? New directions, major reorientations The main principles Some specifics A successful alternative Europe project: teh major challenges
Europe as a geopolitical power The proposals of the Economic Defense Council Power and weakness: Robert Kagan's analysis Our real needs The other fields of power
The environmental challenge The facts The excellence of apes Civilisations are mortal
Social insecurity The seven pillars of security The security index

Conclusion

April 2008

ISBN/ISSN: 978 0 7453 2633 7

About the authors

Susan George

Susan George is one of TNI's most renowned fellows for her long-term and ground-breaking analysis of global issues. "How to win the Class War - The Lugano Report 2" is the newest of her sixteen widely translated books. She describes her work in a cogent way that has come to define TNI: "The job of the responsible social scientist is first to uncover these forces [of wealth, power and control], to write about them clearly, without jargon... and finally..to take an advocacy position in favour of the disadvantaged, the underdogs, the victims of injustice."

Recent publications from Democratising Europe

The right to say no As European Union (EU) member states consider the implications of environmentally risky shale gas development (fracking), negotiations are underway for a controversial EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) which would grant investors the right to challenge governments’ decision to ban and regulate fracking.	Guns, debt and corruption High levels of military spending played a key role in the unfolding economic crisis in Europe and continues to undermine efforts to resolve it.
Privatising Europe This working paper and infographic provide an overview of a great ‘fire sale’ of public services and national assets across Europe that is providing profits for a few transnational companies but is often fiercely opposed by its citizens.	EU crisis infographics Why are those responsible for the EU crisis profiting from it? Why are the same policies that caused the crisis being used to resolve it? An infographic expose of the EU crisis, its causes and its social impacts.