Markets & Moral Regulation

Does European integration influence national cultures and social policies? Is Europe's fabled cultural diversity diminishing? In this book, Paulette Kurzer examines these important and topical questions by comparing the Irish abortion ban, Finnish and Swedish drinking restrictions, and Dutch drug decriminalization. Employing a synthesis of constructivist and institutionalist theories, Kurzer demonstrates that domestic shifts in values and attitudes, spurred along by the impact of EC/EU market integration, are in fact bringing about a convergence in European morality norms. Alcohol control policies are forced to liberalize, the Irish abortion proscription is being redefined, and Dutch drug toleration is pushed into a more punitive direction. Markets and Moral Regulation argues that a crucial agency is European law and its role as a market regulator: as market forces invade these cultural and moral spheres, protective barriers disintegrate. The result is that cultural and social domains are increasingly exposed to the influence of market competition.

Review: 'It is a fascinating and well constructed work in a rather under-researched are in political science...and richly informed by the conceptual and analytical tools of comparative politics.' West European Politics

"This well-written book is carefully documented and richly informative..." American Journal of Sociology

"[This book] is an excellent example of how comparative public policy can be done. One of the great strengths of Kurzer's well-written and well-researched book is that she draws subtle conclusions that go no further than what the evidence bears.... Comparative public policy specialists who focus on moral regulation--and especially drug policy--need to pay attention to this book." Governance: An International Journal of Policy, Administration, and Institutions

"An important contribution to the emerging literature on Europeanization..." Perspectives on Politics

"Anyone interested in alcohol, drugs, abortion, morality, cultural change, and Europe should read this book." Foreign Affairs