Habermas and European Integration

Shivdeep Singh Grewal

"From its conception to the referenda of 2005, where it met its end, German philosopher Jürgen Habermas wrote in support of the European Constitution. This is the first in-depth account of his project. Emphasis is placed on the conception of the European Union that informed his political prescriptions--this approach entails a deep engagement with his academic and political writings, and with influential treatments of the European integration process such as the writings of E. B. Haas. The book is divided into three parts. The first considers the unfolding of 'social modernity' at the level of the EU. Among the subjects covered are Habermas's concept of juridification, the latter's affinities with integration theories such as neofunctionalism and the application of Habermas's democratic theory to the EU. The second part addresses 'cultural modernity' in Europe--'Europessimism' is...