The Eurosceptical reader 2

Book abstract:

Euroscepticism from the resurrection to eternity or at least life beyond New Labour is the stuff of this volume, which brings out the traditionally negative approach of the British to the European Union. It is comprised of several contributions, all of which express disapproval and doubt about the benefits of the integration process for the United Kingdom - be it the single currency or military intervention.

The book is organised in two parts addressing first the economic aspects of Euroscepticism and then the political. The power and influence of sterling in the world and the under performance of the euro since 1990 are offered by the Eurosceptics as reasons to resist the single European currency along with arguments surrounding the fatal flaws of the European Central Bank's mandate and the threats to employment and economic growth.

The lack of democracy, excessive regulation, corruption and 'its structural bias against British interests' are the four undeniable defects in the European Union which Russell Lewis puts forward at the beginning of the section on political Euroscepticism as reasons to condemn this political project. The threat to the UK's sovereignty as the European Union continues to grow is discussed too in this part with suggestions that the UK's right to self-governance will be gradually eroded. Moreover, it is suggested that the UK's political future lies with stronger relations with the United States and involvement in international organisations such as the United Nations rather than with its continental neighbours.

Throughout the book the dreaded spectre of 'The European State' haunts many of the contributions as the book chronicles the current wrong turnings and missed opportunities of the EU and seeks to convince the reader of the reasons behind Euroscepticism. When read in conjunction with Palgrave's 'The Pro-European Reader' the two books provide an interesting argument about the UK's membership of the European Union.

Martin Holmes is Lecturer in Politics at St Hugh's College, Oxford and Director of the College of Business Administration (UNL) Oxford.