Financial Crisis and European Union #2

Gregory Xanthos

Day of Search: 12/6/2009

Topic: How has the Financial Crisis affected how the EU operates? Has supranationalism won out or has the diverging interests of states overtaken the EU-principles of cooperation and mutual gain? What facets of the EU's makeup has led to supranationalism succeeding in one instance while not doing so in another?

Search 1: EBSCO
Search terms: European Union and Financial Crisis

"Talks on Deal for Warship Upset Nations Near Russia" from New York Times.

After posting in my previous post three sources of theoretical analysis on the financial crisis and its reactions to it, I wanted to find more mundane evidence of dealings between countries that have been colored by the financial crisis. The fact that France is desperately trying to sell to Russia advanced naval technology it could conceivably use against other EU states, says a lot about France's desire to keep its struggling shipyards open over any adherence to common defense and security concerns with the vast amount of EU countries on the Baltic and Black Seas. The article includes quotes from Baltic countries' politicans as well as French politicans, to give a perspective on their thoughts on the matter. It also provides statistics showing how EU countries compete for weapons sales in EU border countries and beyond. The New York Times is among the most established and credible newspapers in North America.

Search 2: Proquest
Search terms: European Union and Financial Crisis

"Germany and Russia Furious at Opel Blow" from the Financial Times.
This is another article about the recent competition for ownership of a carmaker that is struggling under the recession. Germany, which feared job losses in it country, neogotiated a bid with its favored trade partner, but the U.K, which feared job losses in its country helped neogotiate a settlement that would retain jobs in the EU. Germany tried to speed the process by offering several million euros in aid to keep jobs there. Accusations are mounting that this a violation of EU competition law. It remains to be seen how the internal dynamics of the EU will allow these accusations to play themselves out, but Germany could find itself under investigation by the European Commission. The article includes a number of useful quotations ranging from those of factory workers' opinions to comments by Vladmir Putin and EU leaders. The Financial Times is probably the preeminent business-related daily in the world.

Search 3 : Web of Science
Search terms: European Union and Financial Crisis

"The Old and New Politics of International Financial Stability" from the Journal of Common Market Studies.
I chose this article beacuse, unlike my articles from the previous log it not only makes suggestions for how to stregnthen the EU's financial institutions but also analyzes what stands in the way of this. For my paper, it's useful to have both perspectives. The Journal of Common Market Studies is the premier journal on economic issues within the European Union, so its a great source as well.

Citations:

Barry, Ellen. "Talks on Deal for Warship Upset Nations Near Russia" New York Times 28 Nov.2009:1 . Ebsco. Web. 06 Dec. 2009.

Milne, Richard, " Germany and Russia Furious at Opel Blow" Financial Times 5 Nov. 2009: 1. ProQuest. Web. 06 Dec.2009.


Pauly, Lewis. "The Old and the New Politics of International Financial Stability." Journal of Common Market Studies 47. November ( 2009): 955-975. Web of Science. Web. 06 Dec.2009.