Customer Reviews

European Integration, 1950-2003: Superstate or New Market Economy?

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

European Integration is one of my favorites topics. I do not share the author's euro skepticism but I enjoyed his discussion about different theories of integration. However, I cannot recommend a book with so many factual errors about modern history of my native Spain. I do not know who told Mr. Gillingham that Prime Minister Felipe González was know as Pepe (it is González and not Gonzáles by the way), that the socialist inspired trade union is the Unión de Centro Democrático (as opposed to the Union General de Trabajadores) that the deputy PM name was Juan Guerra (as opposed to Alfonso Guerra) or that the Bank of Spain intervened BANESTA (as opposed to BANESTO). I recommend a full revision if this book is ever to be translated into Spanish and/or sold in Spain. I can only hope that he got the facts of the rest of the countries right.

We need a one-volume history of European Integration, but not this five hundred page panegyric to...Margaret Thatcher? In Gillingham's funhouse, Thatcher is the key figure in European Integration, receiving more attention than any of the individuals who actually tried to integrate Europe, most of whom are dismissed, often in very personal terms. European integration indeed disappears from the book sometimes for sixty pages at a time while the author reviews political developments of right-wing governments in...New Zealand? A very distorted understanding of European integration.

Unlike the last reviewer who had to review this work three times to air his/her views on this work, I will only need one. The author is extremely precise in his wording, and very knowledgeable with the subject matter presented. The book is a pleasure to read, and a great addition to the library of anyone with an avid interest in Europe.

European integration is one of my favourites topics. I do not share the author's euro skepticism but enjoyed his discussion about general theories of integration. However I am unable to recomend a book with so many factual errors about modern history of my native Spain. I do not know who told Mr Gillingam that Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez was know as Pepe, who told him that the solialist inspired trade union was the Union de Centro Democratico, that the Deputy Prime minister's name was Juan Guerra or that the Bank of Spain intervend BANESTA just to name a few. I recommend a full revission if this book is ever to be transalted into Spanish and/or sold in Spain. I can only hope he got his facts rights about the rest of the countries.

Mr. Gillingham is the most informed and erudite American scholar in regards to the EU. Well done.

But my review will still change the rating. BWA HA HA.