International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

Their battle and ours

The Editors — 1997-06-28T00:00:00Z

For a long time 'Europe' was just an idea. Perhaps a good idea, certainly an inoffensive idea, but in any event something far off in the distance. The neo-liberal offensive of the 1980s and the fall of the Berlin Wall changed this.

- IV290 - Europe special - June 1997 / Europe

EU treaties in the light of history

The Editors — 1997-06-28T00:00:00Z

Europe has a long history of wars, invasions, bloody conflicts and social ruptures. No wonder the "utopia of union" is so strong.

- IV290 - Europe special - June 1997 / Europe

The price of the Euro

Robert Went — 1997-06-28T00:00:00Z

Across the European Union, expensive propaganda campaigns are being organised to convince the population that the common European currency is a good thing. The introduction of the Euro is presented as a technical operation, and to everyone's advantage.

- IV290 - Europe special - June 1997 / Europe

Economists against the EMU

1997-06-28T00:00:00Z

A statement by 70 Dutch economists against the EMU, published February 13 in De Volkskrant, a major Dutch dailies, has spectacularly opened a real debate about the Euro in a country where, until recently, almost everybody seemed to support the Euro project.

- IV290 - Europe special - June 1997 / Europe

For a social Europe

Maxime Durand — 1997-06-28T00:00:00Z

There are more than 18 million unemployed in the European Union, according to official statistics. The average unemployment rate is 11% (13% for women and 9% for men. An estimated 50 million people live in poverty.

- IV290 - Europe special - June 1997 / Europe

The persistence of inequality

1997-06-28T00:00:00Z

The current profound restructuring of European capitalism includes a widespread attack on a woman's right to work. One of the primary elements of this attack is the spread of part-time work.

- IV290 - Europe special - June 1997 / Europe, Women

Public services for the common good

Maxime Durand — 1997-06-28T00:00:00Z

All industrialised countries are facing a two-fold process of deregulation and privatisation, affecting both public services and social security. The ultimate goal of this offensive is to put sectors of economic and social activity back into the market.

- IV290 - Europe special - June 1997 / Europe

The automobile society

Winfried Wolf — 1997-06-28T00:00:00Z

The European Union prefers the train. Officially, at least. But we all know the real situation. Trains might be more socially and ecologically reasonable, but EU "reform" has destroyed the rail system.

- IV290 - Europe special - June 1997 / Europe

Our International

The Editors — 1997-06-28T00:00:00Z

Ours is the Fourth International. The fourth, "Trotskyist", because the other three disappeared - by political abdication, or organisational collapse.

- IV290 - Europe special - June 1997 / Europe

The threat of military Europe

1997-06-28T00:00:00Z

The Euromilitarisation of the EU is an undeniable reality, even if it is being done discretely and taking forms that are still uneven and incomplete.

- IV290 - Europe special - June 1997 / Europe