Dismantling Social Europe : The Political Economy of Social Policy in the European Union

Why is neoliberalism winning out as a social policy in the European Union?

Daniel Preece demonstrates how, despite the commitment to 'Social Europe' that has been entrenched in the EU treaty framework since the late 1990s, neoliberal actors have successfully reframed the policy debates and affected the welfare policies adopted by the member states.

Focusing on the cases of Germany and Ireland, he reveals just how questions of economic competitiveness have come to dominate the EU's social policy agenda.

This title investigates the debate over social policy in the European Union and the impact it has had on welfare policies within the member states.