According to the leading study of the author in his book "La Megamachine" from 1994, technological development has become "vicious" in as much it degraded the creator of the juggernaut to just a part of the system, and sacrificed a good deal of social values previously crucial in human relations. In order to find a way out we have to go beyond "technopessimism".

Progress has been a key concept in all different approaches to the philosophy of history. However, it can always be re-considered what constitutes progress. Is it about technological development or a qualitative change or social relations, or both?

Deregulation of social relations has been a prime tendency in Western Europe. The most clear development in recent years is a decrease in social standards, which encourages a competitive devaluation of labour in various parts of the EU.

The author privides a review of the evolution of the West-European integration, and analyses the idea and programme of single currency within the context of the neo-conservative ear, aimed at the destruction of the welfare state.