Social state and european identity

• Main Author: Covadonga Isabel Ballesteros Panizo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad de Deusto 2019-02-01
• Series: Cuadernos Europeos de Deusto
• Subjects: identidad europea; estado social; regulación
• Online Access: http://ced.revistas.deusto.es/article/view/1553
• ISSN: 1130-8354; 2445-3587

<p>The study presents the social state model as a hallmark of Europe's identity. To do this, the origins of the social state, the values on which it stands, and the changes that this model is currently suffering are analyzed. The relevance of the subject under study lies in the apparent threat that the privatization trend of essential services could pose for European identity. For this, the work addresses the study of the current relations between State and society. Only a few decades ago, in the model of social state, the State appeared as the only provider of essential services for the community; today, however, the State appears as guarantor of these services, which are lent and owned by private operators. It is noted, in this sense, that the liberalizing trend is not necessarily contrary to the Social State, provided that adequate regulation is articulated to guarantee its principles. As a conclusion, the work highlights the need for Europe to protect the values on which the model of the State of the countries that comprise it is based, in order to preserve its genuine identity.</p><p><strong>Received</strong>: 02 July 2018<br /> <strong>Accepted</strong>: 10 September 2018<br /> <strong>Published online</strong>: 27 February 2019</p>