The welfare state and the future of European integration according to Tony Judt

Abstract

The article aims at describing selected aspects of the views expressed by British historian and prominent intellectual, Tony Judt, concerning European welfare states in the context of political and economic integration in the EU. Judt’s scholarly writings include, among others, books about the history of the French left and the role and responsibility of intellectuals. The article explores Judt’s views on the European social model and postwar welfare state, as well as globalization and the unique project of supranational political and economic integration. These issues were crucial to Tony Judt’s vision of Europe. The text indicates that Tony Judt was a huge proponent of the European social model and the institutions of postwar welfare states. It is also argued that his views on the European integration fundamentally changed. In the 1990s he was highly doubtful about the future direction of the EU. After some time, however, he became certain that the EU would play a vital role in the international politics in the 21st century because of the cross-border template upon which contemporary Europe is being constructed.