Economics, Europe, European, International Relations 

The European Union will be a much more diversified entity after the forthcoming eastward enlargement. The applicant states from Eastern Europe are much poorer than the current member states from Western Europe. Their democracy and in some cases even their statehood is newly established and presumably more fragile. Their economic, legal and administrative structures are less developed. This collection of essays will try to examine the origin, nature, scale and implications of this divergence. How much divergence is likely to be imported by the Union and will it hamper the process of European integration?
This volume looks at differences and similarities in the field of macro-economics, welfare systems, democracy, institutional infrastructure, civic orientations and popular culture. The book shows that the map of convergence and divergence in the future EU will be very complex and will not correspond exactly with the old east-west divide. Moreover, the division lines are constantly changing with the enlargement process representing an important factor pushing individual states into a single regulatory frame, if not in a common political direction. However, there are other "unifying" factors at play: globalization produces different models and loyalties than Europeanization. Moreover, the European pulling effect works unevenly in different functional fields and in different countries. There are also many factors that produce greater divergence rather than convergence across the European Union; a certain degree of divergence is thus unavoidable. The book shows, in particular, that certain types of divergence can be beneficial rather than merely detrimental in the process of European integration.
 

Focusing upon the emerging patterns of unity and diversity in the enlarged European Union, this study explores enlargement from the East and the impact this will have on the future identity of Europe. - from Amzon 

1. Introduction : diversity and adaptation in the enlarged European Union By
Jan Zielonka and Peter Mair....................................................................p. 1

2. Eastern enlargement of the European Union and the identity of Europe By
Dieter Fuchs and Hans-Dieter Klingemann................................................p 19 3. Culture and national identity : 'the East' and European integration By
David D. Laitin.......................................................................................p 55

4. Discomforts of victory : democracy, liberal values, and nationalism in
post- communist Europe By Vladimir Tismaneanu.....................................p 81

5. Making institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, and the impact of Europe
By Darina Malova and Tim Haughton......................................................p 101

6. Making markets and eastern enlargement : diverging convergence? By
Laszlo Bruszt....................................................................................p 121

7.Health not wealth : enlarging the EMU By Daniel Gros................................p 141

8. The welfare state in transition economies and accession to the EU By
Hans-Jürgen Wagener.........................................................................p 152

9. Approaching the EU and reaching the US? : rival narratives on transforming welfare regimes in East-Central Europe By János Mátyás Kovács....................p 175