In this prescient book, Dominic Afscharian outlines the meaning and implications of ‘social Europe’, questioning why citizens do not see a European Union with a 'human face' in their everyday lives. Identifying the key political actors in the European Parliament and Commission, he explores the dominant ideologies that govern influential institutions and political parties and demonstrates how these inhibit political change. Afscharian analyses the main proponents and opponents of European social integration, examining policy frameworks, the welfare state and social policy principles. He provides insight into ideational struggles in the EU, covering party conflict and opposing political alliances within the European Commission. Chapters set an agenda for how stalemates in European integration can be overcome, presenting an in-depth exploration of the history of European unemployment insurance as a key example. The book lauds the individuals who are determined to realise a disruptive
