M. Kousis – författare

Europe is sometimes credited with a "polis", but not a "demos"; political integration and economic globalization cannot diminish local identity and social memories. This collection of national case studies shows why there will always be a local "demos" located in ecology, economy, and society, but never a transnational "demos", precisely because locality is the basis for meaningful sustainability.

`Europe is sometimes credited with a `polis,'' but not a `demos''. Political integration and economic globalisation cannot diminish local identity and social memories. This fascinating collection of national case studies shows why there will always be a local `demos'' located in ecology, economy, and society. But there will never be a transnational `demos'', precisely because locality is the basis for meaningful sustainability. Long may it triumph.'' Tim O''Riordan, CSERGE, University of East Anglia ''The book offers a refreshing perspective on the diversity of Europe and at the same time, on the interdependence of the policies, economies, and societies of European countries. Going beyond the dichotomies of `good and bad'' and `leaders and laggards'' in environmental matters, the authors contribute to a different understanding of the North-South divide in the process of European integration.'' Angela Liberatore, European Commission, Directorate General for Research `This is a self-consciously revisionist volume, whose findings are theoretically significant, policy-relevant, and timely. Its insistence on `bringing society back in,'' its debunking of the notion of a `Mediterranean syndrome,'' its emphasis on developmental `leapfrogging'' capacity of late-comers to emerge as leaders in contexts of late modernity, and its systematic attempt to reconceptualize the politics of Europeanization should be carefully listed to students and policy-makers concerned with collective action, Southern Europe, European integration, and environmental politics.'' P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, University of Athens