Effects of Exceptionalism on social cohesion in Europe and beyond

Objectives

Developing the framework of the Elise project, the Genoa group workpackage of Challenge project intends to carry out the research through a number of in-depth case studies regarding the production of various security concepts and practices at local, national, European and global level.

We will investigate the reality of what has been defined «Full spectrum dominance», that is the reality of a fractional order - or rather dis-order -, resulting from the interaction of different actors with often divergent interests, and the possible alternative to such a disorder resulting from the construction of the European Union.

The first issue we want to treat are the changes intervening in the perception, conception and practice of freedom, liberty, democracy, insecurity and security at local level from a sociological perspective to assess the changes affecting the various social components in the local communities. We will study the conceptions and the practices among less protected social actors - irregular workers, migrants, deviants, etc. -, among leisure class members, among local administrators and politicians in towns and small villages, among police officials and magistrates.

We’ll also deal with the interactions between different levels - local, national, European and global (in particular in Euro Mediterranean area with some comparisons also drawn with US policy)-, with the role played by the media, and with the relations intervening between social groups, police forces and the juridical system. In this context, we will study the difficulties to find reference to the European Union as a possible resource to find a solution to such problems. Why cannot the EU be conceived as the most important reference for the defence of freedom and democracy as defence of security by the European societies? (we will try to find an answer to this question by using empirical research issues and possible useful assumptions).

Thus, it’s very important to think of the construction of the European Union as the creation of an institution being able to guarantee citizenship practices, to favour a peaceful and regular social inclusion in European societies, and to lead to pacific relations in the international arena. It is possible to think the EU as a social institution for the pacific and negotiated governance of «disorder rules» at micro and macro level?

The data collected and analysis carried out within the framework of this workpackage will be used also to inform the observatory.

Description of work

Content analysis of the major national media and of 10 local media (Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain) dealing with freedom, democracy, insecurity, security, social problems, black economies, migrations, terrorism, war, local administrations, European Union, United Nations, hunger world wide, the situation in the Third world, etc.; analysis of regular polls about insecurity, fears, social problems, etc.

Interviews with privileged witnesses and actors in some important European towns (managers, bank, stock exchange, insurance and real estate operators, trade unions and NGOs representatives, lawyers, magistrates, policemen, local administrators, teachers, workers in the informal market, prisoners, etc.) about freedom, democracy, insecurity, security, social problems, informal economies, migrations, terrorism, war, local administrations, European Union, United Nations, hunger world wide, the situation in the Third world, etc.

Analysis of statistical series (in Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain) from 1990 to the present day about income distribution, work market, housing situation, informal economies, de-localisation processes, justice administration, imprisonment and denunciations, prisons, migrations, etc.

Analysis of victimisation and racism episodes (in Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, as reported by the most serious researchers) against national citizens and aliens.

Analysis of the changes occurred in the management of urban security and in the rules of disorder. As a matter of fact, in some emblematic cases (i.e. social or political protest, hooligans, shadow economies, work of illegal migrants, etc.) the management of social order turns to a flexible combination of formal norms and informal provisions (the theory of the management of the rules of disorder will be explained in this part of the work).

Analysis of the changes occurred (before and after 11 Sept. 2001) in the management of migrations in the main European countries and in the fight against illegal immigration in Euro-Mediterranean area. This analysis will be carried out by means of some studies regarding the practices of states and of the private actors involved.

Analysis of the changes occurred in Euro Mediterranean relations (between EU and extra-EU countries) after the actual crisis

Comparison with other countries on the base of research reports, publications and statistical data.

Institution of a permanent working group to discuss on «Freedom, democracy, insecurity, security and citizenship in Europe» (in agreement with the other CHALLENGE teams), and organisation of workshops with the participation of two-three experts and privileged witnesses from the major EU and some extra-EU countries (like Morocco, Turkey, Rumania, Russia).

During our research we will always take into consideration a confrontation between the practices and the orientations of the EU states and the US. In particular, we will analyse the following fields: migrations, reproduction of illegal/clandestine labour force, shadow economies, delocalisations, and relations with third countries, internal security, and military strategy. According to our hypothesis that analysis allows to understand the analogies and the differences, the continuity and the adjustments of the EU and the US. Both cases appear affected by contradictory practices and orientations. But the EU and the US could be considered as two different configurations: while the EU appears as an essentially economic entity without political and military capability, the United States are the first political-military power of the world. In fact, the European construction process has always been characterised by the development of the economic capacities along with a management of social control, which, in the neo-liberalistic setting, is more and more dominated by police-oriented practices. In others words, the European construction tends to rely on an economic-police conception, which includes also the agreements with third countries, and which doesn’t foster a political-military power. On the contrary, the US concept of hegemony focuses on the military superiority as a major element of world power; not by chance is American economy closely linked with military business. After September 11th and after the war in Iraq, some scholars suggest the necessity of an autonomous EU military force and security (as a mere defensive force or as a force of a power in a worldwide multi-poles scenario). Will it be possible for the EU to become a political-military power? To answer this question it is necessary to analyse both the different hindrances to and the favourable elements in such perspective. As for the obstacles, it is important to take into account the particularity of the European actors, the common interests shared by some of them with the American ones, the resistance of single countries. As far as the favourable elements are concerned, the expectations expressed by the movements for peace, democracy and a social Europe should be better studied, both the different hindrances to and the favourable elements in such perspective. As for the obstacles, it is important to take into account the particularity of the European actors, the common interests shared by some of them with the American ones, the resistance of single countries. As far as the favourable elements are concerned, the expectations expressed by the movements for peace, democracy and a social Europe should be better studied.