Another option: European Democratic Socialism Research

Author: Li Hong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: European studies are one of the most important research fields in contemporary social science research. As a specific area of social science research, European studies do not refer to research related to Europe in general, but rather to research related to the European Union and European integration. Its main research content includes the politics of the European Union, economic policies, social policies, European Union law, and the history of European integration. The importance of European studies is reflected in two aspects. First, the development process of European integration has raised a series of new issues for social science research. European integration began with functional cooperation between states, namely the European Coal and Steel Community, and subsequently evolved through the European Economic Community, the European Community, to the European Union. During this period, the European Community/European Union not only achieved customs unions, common agricultural policies, the European Monetary System, and the European Economic and Monetary Union (single currency Euro) economically, but also made significant progress in political institutions and legal systems, such as the institutional arrangements of the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Court of Justice; and the legal systems of the various treaties of the European Community and the European Union, as well as the judicial system at the European level. This raises the question: what is the essence of European integration? Is European integration economic integration, political integration, legal integration, or a comprehensive interactive process integrating all three? According to our understanding, integration refers to the process by which multiple originally independent sovereign entities gradually merge into a single entity through certain means. The integration process involves not only economic cooperation between states but also political, legal, and cultural integration, or the integration of the entire society, representing a comprehensive interactive process of politics, economy, law, society, and culture. Since it involves the mutual integration of sovereign entities and will ultimately become a single sovereign entity in the world, it differs from general inter-state cooperation and is not limited to general inter-state political or economic relations. As a process of sovereign integration, it is primarily a political and legal process. The fundamental characteristics of integration lie in its voluntary nature, equality, and the transfer of sovereignty. The core of sovereignty transfer is the voluntary surrender of national sovereignty, which is a long and gradual process. In this process, institutionalization and legalization become the fundamental prerequisites and guarantees for achieving integration. Therefore, the development of European integration is not a simple economic or political integration, but rather a process where political and economic integration intertwine and interact. Economic integration contains political integration, and political integration drives economic integration. Meanwhile, legalization plays a leading role in this process. Based on the above understanding, we emphasize that European studies are an interdisciplinary and integrated research field, with political science and law as its core. Second, the development of European integration has not only made the European Union a significant force on the international political and economic stage but has also made European integration a new model of inter-state cooperation for countries and regions worldwide to emulate. From the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community to the realization of a single currency, European integration is referred to as a "quality growth" regional development model. The main characteristics of this development model can be summarized as the "regionalized model of common stability and synchronized development" and the "sustainable development model." The European Union has formulated a set of stability indicators through legislation, emphasizing that economic growth must meet "quality" standards. At the same time, the European Union attaches great importance to environmental and ecological protection, emphasizing "sustainable development," viewing ecological and environmental protection as the premise for long-term economic growth. Moreover, the European Union organically combines economic development with social development, making "sustainability" a comprehensive goal of coordinated economic and social development. In today's world of continuous globalization, this undoubtedly holds great reference significance. This is also one of the main reasons why the European Union has become a research subject of increasing concern. European studies originated earlier in the West and have already developed relativelyly. In China, while European studies are still relatively backward, they have shown a rapid development trend in recent years. Especially since the launch of the China-EU Higher Education Cooperation Project in 1997, European studies have become one of the fastest-growing fields in Chinese social sciences. Nearly 20 European studies research centers or institutes have been established in Chinese universities and research institutions. The Research Center for European Studies at Renmin University of China was established in 1994, with its main research fields including European politics and diplomacy, European Union law, the European Economic and Monetary Union, and European social policies. Since 1997, the center has undertaken more than 50 research projects and has established cooperative relationships with nearly 100 universities and research institutions in Europe. In 2000, the Research Center for European Studies was designated as a key research base for humanities and social sciences by the Ministry of Education, and its research team expanded to include members from the most prominent European studies research institutions in China, forming the strongest academic research network within the university system. Supported by the Legal Publishing House and the European Union Commission, the Research Center for European Studies at Renmin University of China organized the compilation of this series, "European Studies," with the aim of continuously introducing academic achievements of Chinese scholars in the field of European studies and contributing to further advancing European studies in China.