Aftershocks

by Anton Hemerijck, Ben Knapen, and Ellen van Doorne

Published 10 November 2009
Aftershocks was written in the midst of the deepest economic crisis since the Great Depression. Although it would be premature to presume to identify the repercussions of the crisis, it is clear that it will have profound aftershock effects in the political, economic, and social spheres. The book contains essays based on semi-structured interviews with leading scholars, European politicians and representatives from the world of business. They reflect on the origins of the crisis as well as the possible social, economic, and political transformations it may engender. This title is available in the OAPEN Library - http://www.oapen.org.

Attached to the World

by Ben Knapen

Published 19 April 2011
Also available in Dutch "http://www.aup.nl/do.php?a=show_visitor_book&isbn=9789089643018">Aan het buitenland gehecht Few other countries are so interrelated with the world around us in political, economic, and social respects as the Netherlands. This means that the Dutch government needs to be alert in its response to the risks and opportunities presented by a rapidly changing world. Addressing this issue, the Scientific Council for Government Policy (wrr) offers some reflections in this report, guided by the question how the Netherlands can develop a foreign policy strategy that matches the changing power relations in the world and the radically changed character of international relations. The answer to this question is a reorientation. This means making transparent choices, making smarter use of Europe as our dominant arena, and, finally, choosing an approach that makes better use of the growing role of non-state actors. The report's recommendations not only underline the necessity of reorientation but also show how this could be accomplished in practice. This title is available in the OAPEN Library - http://www.oapen.org.