Clift, Ben (2013) Economic patriotism, the clash of capitalisms, and state aid in the European Union. Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Volume 13 (Number 1). pp. 101-117. doi:10.1007/s10842-012-0138-5

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Abstract

This article analyses the political economy of state aid in the European Union (EU) using the concepts of economic patriotism and models of capitalism. State aid is analysed as a form of economic patriotism, which is conceived here as economic interventions which seek, by a number of means, to advance the perceived economic self-interest of particular groups and actors (firms, workforces, or sectors) defined according to their territorial status. The article argues that the paradox of neo-liberal democracy generated by liberal international markets, overlapping economic governance regimes (such as the EU and the World Trade Organisation), and nationally delimited political mandates presents new problems for policy-makers attempting economic interventions like state aid. Forms of economic patriotism are partly shaped by national institutional and social configurations and state traditions. Within EU economic governance, this generates a ‘clash of capitalisms’ whereby liberal EU anti-trust and competition policy norms proscribe certain state aid and industrial policy measures favoured by some European states. As traditional industrial policy becomes decreasingly viable, new modes of economic patriotic interventionism are enacted within contemporary processes of market-making, and the re-regulatory activity framing European markets. The paper focuses on French state aid responses to the global economic crisis, noting how the retreat of neo-liberal ebullience within the EU provides a conducive environment for resurgent French dirigiste approaches to state aid, indicating that the politics of economic patriotism and state aid will continue to be important features of the European political economic landscape in the years ahead.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions J Political Science > JZ International relations
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Government aid -- European Union countries, European Union -- Economic aspects
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade
Publisher:	Springer
ISSN:	1566-1679
Official Date:	March 2013
Dates:	Date Event March 2013 Published
Date of first compliant deposit:	20 December 2015
Volume:	Volume 13
Number:	Number 1
Page Range:	pp. 101-117
DOI:	10.1007/s10842-012-0138-5
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access

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