In this book Ian Bruff challenges the hitherto dominant varieties of capitalism literature on the role of consensus in European political economies. He argues that its institutionalist perspective renders it unable to analyze consensus adequately, for this can be achieved only with a consideration of culture.
Furthermore, Antonio Gramsci's discussions of 'common sense' provide the conceptual apparatus necessary for analyzing the integral role of culture and consensus in the national variety of capitalism. This framework is then applied to two milestones in the trajectories of the Dutch and German political economies – the Wassenaar and Alliance for Jobs processes – and extensive interview data is drawn upon to make the case. The post-2001 period in both countries is also assessed.
'Ian Bruff brings Gramscian notions of culture and common sense back into the study of national economic performance. In this way, he underscores that policy consensus is what people understand and make of it, and not what institutions thrust upon them. His argument not only extends the reach of neo-gramscian analysis, but offers an important provocation for all comparative political economists.' - Erik Jones, Professor of European Studies, SAIS Bologna Center, Italy
'Drawing on Gramsci, Ian Bruff provides a new definition of culture, which helps us to understand the possibility of consensus formation beyond the focus on institutional norms within the Varieties of Capitalism literature. Conceptually highly innovative and empirically rich, this book is a must read for everyone interested in understanding current restructuring of national political economies.' - Andreas Bieler, Professor of Political Economy, University of Nottingham, UK
'A perceptive and engaging book that is closely argued throughout and that adds a most valuable Gramscian reflection on the concept of consensus to the considerable literature on European varieties of capitalism. This deserves to be widely read.' - Colin Hay, Professor of Political Analysis, University of Sheffield, UK
Introduction
Culture in the Literatures
An Alternative Framework: Gramsci's "Common Sense"
The Dutch and German Varieties of Capitalism
The Netherlands and Wassenaar
Germany and the Alliance for Jobs
Post-2001 Radicalization
Conclusion: "Critical" IPE?
IAN BRUFF is Research Officer in the Department of Research and Knowledge Transfer at Edge Hill University, UK. Prior to this he taught and researched at several UK universities and also Trinity College Dublin. He has published on the Netherlands, the globalization debate, and neo-Gramscian theory.
Description
In this book Ian Bruff challenges the hitherto dominant varieties of capitalism literature on the role of consensus in European political economies. He argues that its institutionalist perspective renders it unable to analyze consensus adequately, for this can be achieved only with a consideration of culture.
Furthermore, Antonio Gramsci's discussions of 'common sense' provide the conceptual apparatus necessary for analyzing the integral role of culture and consensus in the national variety of capitalism. This framework is then applied to two milestones in the trajectories of the Dutch and German political economies – the Wassenaar and Alliance for Jobs processes – and extensive interview data is drawn upon to make the case. The post-2001 period in both countries is also assessed.
Reviews
'Ian Bruff brings Gramscian notions of culture and common sense back into the study of national economic performance. In this way, he underscores that policy consensus is what people understand and make of it, and not what institutions thrust upon them. His argument not only extends the reach of neo-gramscian analysis, but offers an important provocation for all comparative political economists.' - Erik Jones, Professor of European Studies, SAIS Bologna Center, Italy
'Drawing on Gramsci, Ian Bruff provides a new definition of culture, which helps us to understand the possibility of consensus formation beyond the focus on institutional norms within the Varieties of Capitalism literature. Conceptually highly innovative and empirically rich, this book is a must read for everyone interested in understanding current restructuring of national political economies.' - Andreas Bieler, Professor of Political Economy, University of Nottingham, UK
'A perceptive and engaging book that is closely argued throughout and that adds a most valuable Gramscian reflection on the concept of consensus to the considerable literature on European varieties of capitalism. This deserves to be widely read.' - Colin Hay, Professor of Political Analysis, University of Sheffield, UK
Contents
Introduction
Culture in the Literatures
An Alternative Framework: Gramsci's "Common Sense"
The Dutch and German Varieties of Capitalism
The Netherlands and Wassenaar
Germany and the Alliance for Jobs
Post-2001 Radicalization
Conclusion: "Critical" IPE?
Authors
IAN BRUFF is Research Officer in the Department of Research and Knowledge Transfer at Edge Hill University, UK. Prior to this he taught and researched at several UK universities and also Trinity College Dublin. He has published on the Netherlands, the globalization debate, and neo-Gramscian theory.
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