Do Too Many Chefs Really Spoil the Broth? The European Commission, Bureaucratic Politics and European Integration, CES Germany & Europe Working Papers, No. 09.2, 5 August 1999

There is a puzzling, little-remarked contradiction in scholarly views of the European Commission. On the one hand, the Commission is seen as the maestro of European integration, gently but persistently guiding both governments and firms toward Brussels. On the other hand, the Commission is portrayed as a headless bunch of bickering fiefdoms who can hardly be bothered by anything but their own in­ ternecine turf wars. The reason these very different views of the same institution have so seldom come into conflict is quite apparent: EU studies has a set of relatively autonomous and poorly integrated sub­ fields that work at different levels of analysis. Those scholars holding the "heroic" view of the Com­ mission are generally focused on the contest between national and supranational levels that character­ ized the 1992 program and subsequent major steps toward European integration. By contrast, those scholars with the "bureaucratic politics" view are generally authors of case studies or legislative his­ tories of individual EU directives or decisions. However, the fact that these twO images of the Commis­ sion are often two ships passing in the night hardly implies that there is no dispute. Clearly both views cannot be right; but then, how can we explain the significant support each enjoys from the empirical record? The CommiSSion, perhaps the single most important supranational body in the world, certainly deserves better than the schizophrenic interpretation the EU studies community has given it. In this paper, I aim to make a contribution toward the unraveling of this paradox. In brief, the argument I make is as follows: the European Commission can be effective in pursuit of its broad integration goals in spite of, and even because of, its internal divisions. The folk wisdom that too many chefs spoil the broth may often be true, but it need not always be so. The paper is organized as follows. 1 begin with an elaboration of the theoretical position briefly out­ lined above. 1 then tum to a case study from the major Commission efforts to restructure the computer industry in the context of its 1992 program. The computer sector does not merely provide interesting, random illustrations of the hypothesis 1 have advanced. Rather, as Wayne Sandholtz and John Zysman have stressed, the Commission's efforts on informatics formed one of the most crucial parts of the en­ tire 1992 program, and so the Commission's success in "Europeanizing" these issues had significant ripple effects across the entire European political economy. I conclude with some thoughts on the fol­ lowing question: now that the Commission has succeeded in bringing the world to its doorstep, does its bureaucratic division still serve a useful purpose?

One year of Ukraine’s De-communisation. A change in the historical narrative. OSW COMMENTARY NUMBER 211/16.05.2016

A year ago, the Parliament of Ukraine adopted four bills on the policy of national memory: on granting access to the archives of the repressive organs of the Communist totalitarian regime in the years 1917–1991, on the legal status and commemoration of Ukrainian independence fighters in the twentieth century, on the immortalisation of the victory over Nazism in the Second World War, 1939–1945, and on the condemnation of the Communist and National Socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes and the forbidding of their symbolism from being promoted. The laws came into force on 21 May 2015. After a year, it can be stated that only the latter two are being observed – the official narrative regarding World War II has been changed, mainly due to the activity of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance (UINR), but also as a result of public statements by President Petro Poroshenko. The process of removing from public places the names and commemorations referring to the Soviet era is underway, and the fears that this may trigger serious conflicts have not proved true. From roughly a thousand placenames subject to de-communisation some two thirds have been changed so far (parliamentary bills regarding the remaining ones are awaiting approval) and most statues of Communist leaders have been removed. However, the law concerning independence fighters, which raised the most serious controversies, did not have any practical consequences. Moreover, nothing suggests that this could change. The implementation of the de-communisation laws is associated with a significant change in Ukrainian patriotic narrative: it is no longer focused on national martyrdom and it is beginning to emphasize heroic motives, which is in line with wartime needs. The fact that some of these motives are likely to trigger problems in Ukraine’s relations with Poland seems to be viewed as a marginal ‘by-product’.

Works.

V. 1. French revolution - 2. French revolution (cont'd). - Past and present. - 3. Sartor resartus on heroes, hero-worship and the heroic in history. - 4. The life of Friedrich Schuller. - The life of John Sterling. - 5. Latter-day pamphlets. - The early kings of Norway, also an essay on the portraits of John Knox. - 6-8. Oliver Cromwell's letters and speechers, with elucidations. - 9-14. History of Friedrich D. of Prussia called Frederick the Great. - 15-17. Critical and miscellaneous essays.

Some eighteenth century byways and other essays,

Reprints in part from Blackwood's magazine, the Atlantic monthly, the Quarterly review and the Spectator.

Canada in the great world war; an authentic account of the military history of Canada from the earliest days to the close of the war of the nations,

"Memorial edition."

The poetical works of Aubrey De Vere.

Each volume has separate t.-p. also.

The British satirist. Comprising the best satires of the most celebrated poets, from Pope to Byron. Accompanied by original critical notices of the authors.

Added t.-p., engraved, with vignette.

The works of François Rabelais /

Each vol. has also special t. p.

The works of Thomas Carlyle /

"Large paper edition limited to 300 copies, of which this is no. 294."

The religion of the Teutons /

Bibliography: p. 417-463.

The New England society orations; addresses, sermons, and poems delivered before the New England society in the city of New York, 1820-1885,

I. Hopkins, W. R. Beginnings of the New England society of New York, 1884. Spring, G. A tribute to New England, 1820. Remarks on the charges made by the Rev. Gardiner Spring, D. D., against the religion and morals of the people of Boston and its vicinity, 1821. Romeyn, J. B. The duty and reward of honouring God, 1821. Whelpley, P. M. "The memory of the just is blessed." 1822. Knapp, S. L. Address, 1829. Bacon, L. Address, 1838. Winthrop, R. C. Address, 1839. Hadduck, C. R. The elements of national greatness, 1841. Cheever, G. B. The elements of national greatness, 1842. Choate, R. The age of the Pilgrims the heroic period of our history, 1843. Webster, D. The landing at Plymouth. 1843. Marsh, G. P. Address, 1844. Upham, C. W. The spirit of the day and its lessons, 1846.--II. Hall, J. P. Discourse, 1847. Bushnell, H. The founders, great in their unconsciousness, 1949. Webster, D. The Constitution and the union, 1850. Hillard, G. S. The past and the futur

The strenuous life; essays and addresses

The strenuous life.--Expansion and peace.-Latitude and longitude among reformers.--Fellow-feeling as a political factor.--Civil helpfulness.--Character and success.--The Eighth and Ninth commandments in politics.--The best and the good.--Promise and performance.--The American boy.--Military preparedness and unpreparedness.--Admiral Dewey.--Grant.--The two Americas.--Manhood and statehood.--Brotherhood and the heroic virtues.--National duties.--The labor question.--Christian citizenship.

Character and characteristic men,

"The first six of the essays, with the exception of that on Intellectual character, were published in Harper's magazine, between July and November, 1857, and the paper on Agassiz was also contributed to that periodical."-Pref.

The works of Thomas Carlyle ...

Edited with introductions by H.D. Traill.

History of Ireland,

v. 1. The heroic period.--v. 2. Cuculain and his contemporaries.