Cite as:
Lipietz A, 1993, "Social Europe, legitimate Europe: the inner and outer boundaries of Europe" Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 11(5) 501 – 512
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Social Europe, legitimate Europe: the inner and outer boundaries of Europe

A Lipietz

Received 18 January 1992; in revised form 12 May 1992

Abstract. The legitimation of Europe as a 'homeland' does not depend only upon formal democracy, but upon a social compromise, as the example of the unification of Germany has shown. But this unification of a social Europe matches two problems. (1) The different nations constituting the EC are already engaged in different paths. Legitimation of the EC requires more integration of its social governance. (2) The other countries at the boundary of the EC (Eastern Europe, Turkey, Magreb) are very different. Their integration would mean disintegration; the integration of the EC without them would exclude them.

The author explores this paradox of 'integration/exclusion' from the social, political, and cultural point of view. The risks of a new boundary 'Europe/barbarians' (across the EC itself) will be outlined. Some suggestions will be made.

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