Europe’s emerging nation states became complex societies and economies long before
they became parliamentary democracies enjoying universal suffrage. This paper traces the
historic trends which led to the institutionalisation of advisory functions of various forms
and functions, from economic and labour planning through interest representation to social
dialogue. Notably, Italy, Germany and France all experimented with such institutional
approaches in the immediate post-First World War period. The conceptual high water mark
came with the Weimar Republic’s envisaged twin-chamber approach (never implemented).
The model lived on and was consolidated in post-Second World War France, Belgium and
the Netherlands, leading to the provisions for such an advisory body in the Treaty of Rome
– today’s European Economic and Social Committee
