Antoine Vauchez Book order

The Neoliberal Republic traces the corrosive effects that the revolving door between public service and private enrichment has on the French state and its ability to govern and regulate the private sector. Casting a piercing light on this circulation of influence among corporate lawyers and others in the French power elite, Antoine Vauchez and Pierre France analyze how this dynamic, a feature of all Western democracies, has developed in concert with the rise of neoliberalism over the past three decades. Based on interviews with dozens of public officials in France and a unique biographical database of more than 200 civil servants-turned corporate lawyers, The Neoliberal Republic explores how the always-blurred boundary between public service and private interests has now been critically compromised, enabling the transformation of the regulatory state into either an ineffectual bystander or an active collaborator in the privatization of public welfare. The cumulative effect of these developments, the authors reveal, undermines democratic citizenship and the capacity to imagine the public good.

An all-star cast of scholars and politicians from Europe and America propose and debate the creation of a new European parliament with substantial budgetary and legislative power to solve the crisis of governance in the Eurozone and promote social and fiscal justice and public investment.

Exploring the intricate relationship between law and the European Union's political landscape, this account delves into the historical and sociological dimensions that shape the EU's legal framework. It examines how diverse interpretations of law influence governance and social order within the EU, providing a comprehensive analysis of its definitional power. Through this lens, the book highlights the complexities of legal authority and its impact on European integration and identity.