Oldal 51 [51]
Inegualities and Social Europe
Zsófia Katalin Kollányi
In the history of the European Union, there has been a clear trend in the past
decades of subordinating the social dimension of European integration to the
interests of the common market and economic development. This has led to
social tensions stemming from growing inequalities both within and between
the EU Member States. In the following, we will review the main contours
of this debate, looking at the definitions and conceptions of inequality, the
data showing how it has actually evolved in recent decades, as well as the
positions of those who advocate for a more integrative focus on social policy
as part of the broader process of European integration. We will contrast their
arguments with the views of the proponents of a more traditional ‘economy
first’ approach. In concluding, we will argue that for both political and policy
reasons inequality needs to be better defined and understood, and the social
dimension of European integration must be strengthened in order the reduce
the underlying political and social tensions which threaten to tear the fabric
of the European project apart.
Keywords: social inequalities, European Social Model, subsidiarity, sovereignty,
economic crisis
INTRODUCTION - BREXIT ON THE SURFACE
In June 2016, the citizens of the United Kingdom decided by a majority vote
that their country should leave the European Union. In the debates preceding
the referendum, a number of arguments and counterarguments were raised
both on the Leave and the Remain sides. Nevertheless, most of the arguments
centered on a few core issues revolving around the prosperity of the country,
albeit understood in different dimensions.
Although Brexit is not specifically the subject of this volume, there is no
doubt that the secession of the UK and the political turmoil both in the run-up
to the decision and its aftermath aptly illustrate a whole range of problems and
fears concerning the future of the European community. We find many overlaps
between these concerns and the topics addressed in the different chapters of
this book. And this particular chapter also covers a multifaceted issue.