Liberty, Solidarity and Community

How have European countries coped with the challenge of industrial capitalism and the rise of superpowers? Through an analysis of European integration from 1945 to the present day, Laurent Warlouzet argues that the European response was to create both new institutions and an original framework of governance for capitalism. Beyond the European case, he demonstrates that capitalism is not just a contest between free-markeeters and their opponents, those in favor of welfare and environmental policies, because there is a third camp which defends protectionism and assertive defence policies. Hence, the governance of capitalism has three foundational principles - liberty, solidarity and community. The book shows how Europeans including Thatcher, de Gaulle and Kohl have dealt with the challenges of nationalism and protectionism in the past, with their successes and failures providing valuable lessons for improving international relations today. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.

Laurent Warlouzet is Professor of History at the Sorbonne Université. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and at the European University Institute (EUI) of Florence.