Social Democracy and Euroscepticism: The Integration Trap

International audienceThis chapter examines the relationship between social democracy and integration in Europe, arguing that Euroscepticism has been an ever-present aspect of social democracy. The chapter places this relationship in the context of the broader political economy of Europe. It argues that social democratic parties were initially slightly wary of integration, for both ideological and national reasons. But as social democratic parties became regular participants in government, they became less radical and began to accept the European Community. This positive engagement changed when Europe shifted from a broadly social model to a more neoliberal one. The European Union imposed greater constraints on social democracy, but by this stage the parties were too deeply embedded in the EU—they had succumbed to an integration ‘trap’. The chapter concludes that in the wake of the financial crisis, demands for a turn away from neoliberal market solutions have gained greater traction, but the integration ‘trap’ means that social democratic parties have struggled to find a convincing ‘alter-European’ message to match the mood

We were always realistic: the Heath government, the European Community and the Cold War in the Mediterranean, June 1970–February 1974

The Mediterranean region and contemporary Mediterranean history fascinated Saki Dockrill. She discussed, often, with characteristic perspicacity, all aspects of American and British diplomacy and strategy in the region. For her, British concepts and attitudes to the Mediterranean were more nuanced and inclusive than American ones. She perceived these as having been moulded by emotion and strategic expediency in equal measure. It was this that made her all the more interested in how two American Republican administrations, in particular, dealt with the region. Both Eisenhower and Nixon had a ‘whole Mediterranean’ approach. This essay investigates the extent to which, during Edward Heath’s premiership (18 June 1970–28 February 1974), Britain’s preparations to join the European Community (EC) led to a ‘Europeanisation’ of its policies and approach towards the Mediterranean. It will examine also, how Britain sought to protect its interests in the Mediterranean during the years of détente with what had become, just, limited capabilities. In doing so, it will bring together some of the themes that were a constant source of interest to Saki, namely post-war British efforts to adopt a European role without compromising the ‘special relationship’ with the US and its world role