Editorial

Citation

Coleman, J. (2000), "Editorial", European Business Review, Vol. 12 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr.2000.05412eab.004

Editorial

Edited byJohn Coleman

Deputy EditorAidan Rankin

Editorial

Enlargement and a diagnosis

There cannot be successful enlargement – which apparently is strongly favoured by most of the members of the European Union – without a fundamental analysis of the culture we all share. Political structures in themselves will not be enough.

Dr Erhard Busek, the Austrian vice-chancellor, expresses the official view of his country which is strongly in favour of enlargement to include the countries of central and eastern Europe, both for economic and political reasons. Such a statement from a country with borders to so many applicant countries and such significant historical links with them must be taken seriously, especially in the light of the fears generated by the nature of the present coalition government in Austria.

The success of enlargement, however, will not be achieved without a deeper analysis of the underlying trends and assumptions which influence the direction of modern Europe. Professor Roy Niblett provides exactly this. His article, with its emphasis on culture and higher education, speaks for itself, and it is difficult to highlight particular points, but perhaps differences in the hidden assumptions that prevail on either side of the English Channel are extremely significant from the point of view of European integration: "modernism" in Britain (and America) and "post-modernism" in France and much of mainland Europe.

For Europe as a Continent to succeed in its dream of peace, cooperation and unity it is vital, both to understand the various trends which subtly influence it today, and to rediscover the whole structure on which the Continent's culture was built.