While I think that these protests against the EU are part of wider
action against 'globalisation' rather than being entirely or even
largely intrinsic to the EU, I do beleive that academics have
severely under-estimated and under-analysed anti-EU views to the
point of completely misunderstanding and patronising their
proponents. In my own limited experience there is a largely unspoken
consensus among politics researchers and among rural development
specialists that the EU as a concept is basically a morally good
thing. There is no particular reason given for this any more, it is
simply taken as given. If you question this, you are either seen as
nationalist reactionary and right wing, or as one of those
'anti-democratic anarchists' Blair refered to the other day. However
it seems pretty obvious to anyone who actually examines what the EU
does and plans to do that it is basically an elite neo-liberal
capitalist project with some token social projects attached to win
popular support, with all the attendant problems and contradictions.
The only real virtue of the EU seems to be that isn't the USA.
This smug self-satisfaction isn't good enough and it won't last
once GATS is signed, NMD is in place and the climate change treaty
has been completely renegotiated to suit the TNCs.
David.
Dr David Wood
Research Associate
Policy Learning in the Common Fisheries Policy
Other Research Interests:
European Union development and environment policy
Globalization and transnational resistance networks
Green political theory and practice
Militarism and military intelligence
Surveillance and Society
Politics Department
University Of Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
UK
Tel: +44 (0)191 222 7465
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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