Christian Joerges has been one of the pioneers and leading scholars of EU law since the more comprehensive constitutional and regulatory reforms of the European
Community and EU treaties – from the Single European Act (1986) and the Maastricht
treaties (1992) and later the current Treaty of the European Union.
He has been part of a generation of legal scholars who started the academic
discussions on ‘The Constitution of Europe’ and its democratic deficits, and who
developed the concepts and research themes of The European Social Model, The
Market without the State, Deliberative Supranationalism and more. Joerges has made
significant contributions to European Economic Law. His generation of EU legal
scholars created an interdisciplinary tradition of EU law highlighting the interaction
between legal, economic and political dynamics, and between domestic, European and international law.
About the book
In this important compendium Joerges reflects on his previous writings in the context of current challenges the European project is facing. More than a simple restatement, it offers an important theoretical comment at this defining time for EU law. The author offers a welcome counterbalance to what some perceive to be a surfeit of optimism when assessing the EU and its development.
In doing so, Professor Joerges identifies three flaws in the current European ideology. Firstly, he points to the intellectual limitations of the "integration through law" ideology. Secondly, the book sets out the systematic neglect of "the economic" and its political dynamics. Finally, it addresses the complacency with respect to Europe’s darker legacies. This is an important critical (and candid) assessment of Europe at its half century.
About the author
Christian Joerges is Professor Emeritus of Law and Society at the Hertie School in
Berlin. He has previously been a professor at EUI and in Bremen and has had strong academic ties to both the Faculty of Law and ARENA at UiO.
Programme
14.15-14.20 Welcome
14.20-14.50 Christian Joerges: Introduction to the book Conflict and Transformation
14.50-15.30 Prepared comments from:
- Inger Johanne Sand, Institute of Public and International Law, UiO
- John Erik Fossum, ARENA Centre for European Studies, UiO
15.30-16.15 Discussion
All welcome!
You can also see the event here.