Economic Crisis and New Nationalisms

As of a consequence of the economic crisis, in 2010 there was a marked deterioration in cross-border relations between Italy and Germany. The confusion among economists, split between pro-and anti-Euro positions, could do nothing to counter this growing wave of populist nationalism. This books discusses the theoretical issues implied by recent economic policy debates.

As of a consequence of the ongoing economic crisis, in 2010 there was a marked deterioration in cross-border relations between Italy and Germany. In both countries the press published articles openly blaming economic hardship on the squandering attitude of southerners or the egoistic and mercantilist policies of northerners. The reigning confusion among economists, split between pro- and anti-Euro positions in both countries, could do nothing to counter this growing wave of populist nationalism. Out of this situation grew the idea of organizing a conference to discuss the theoretical issues implied by recent economic policy debates, purging them of ideological and nationalistic overtones. This volume publishes the proceedings of the resulting international colloquium, «Economic crisis and new nationalisms: German economic policy as perceived by European partners», which was organized by the Foundation Cesifin Alberto Predieri and held in Florence in November 2012.

Autorentext

Antonio Varsori is Professor of International History at the University of Padua, where he is also Director of the Department of Politics, Law and International Studies. He is President of the Liaison Committee of historians of contemporary Europe at the European Commission, President of the Italian Society of International History and a member of the editorial boards of several journals. He has published extensively on the Cold War, European integration and Italian foreign policy. His recent publications include European Union History: Themes and Debates (ed. with Wolfram Kaiser, 2010), and L'Italia e la fine della guerra fredda. La politica estera dei governi Andreotti 1989-1992 (2013). Monika Poettinger is Associate Professor of Economic History at Bocconi University and the University of Florence. She has published extensively on the industrialization of Lombardy, merchant networks and German entrepreneurial migrations. Her recent publications include Deutsche Unternehmer im Mailand des neunzehnten Jahrhunderts. Netzwerke, soziales Kapital und Industrialisierung (2012) and Firenze e l'Europa liberale. L'Economista (1874-1881) (ed., 2013).

Inhalt

Contents: Antonio Varsori: Germany and Europe: Between Co-operation and Suspicion Paolo Savona: Letter to German and Italian Friends. How the European Economic Mechanism Works Bertram Schefold: The Economic Crisis and the Euro. Theoretical and Political Reactions to a Singular Historical Experiment Charles B. Blankart: From Friends to Foes? The Euro as a Cause of New Nationalism Piero Bini: How to Escape from the Crisis. The Divergent Opinions of Italian Economists Gerhard Wegner: The Genealogy of German Ordo-Liberalism and the European Project.