Political Parties and European IntegrationThis book offers a systematic analysis of the role of political parties in the European Union in the process of Community integration. The author looks at the theoretical and empirical dimensions of the transnational structures of the parties and their stake in the institutions of the EU. Examining the manifestos and programmes that the principal political parties of the six most populated states of the EU presented during the campaign for the European parliamentary elections of 2004, he provides an analysis of their political strategies, placing the parties on both the classic left/right axis and that of supranationalism/intergovernmentalism. The focus is specifically on the statements and policy proposals of the parties on the following issues related to the EU as a political system: the nature of the EU, the reach of its territorial space, the debate about a European citizenry, the various projects for institutional reform of the EU and the principal concrete public policies regarding the three pillars. Based on the methodological perspective of comparative politics, the book addresses in a transversal manner the parties' core programmes and their implications for Europe. |
Contents
Introduction | 11 |
CHAPTER | 13 |
CHAPTER 1 | 25 |
CHAPTER 2 | 43 |
CHAPTER 3 | 59 |
CHAPTER 4 | 75 |
Methods of Analysis for Operationalising | 89 |
CHAPTER 1 | 95 |
CHAPTER 3 | 143 |
CHAPTER 4 | 167 |
The Parties of the EFADPPE | 187 |
CHAPTER 7 | 217 |
Conclusions | 243 |
Sources and Bibliography | 257 |
Glossary of Acronyms | 271 |
CHAPTER 2 | 119 |
Common terms and phrases
accepted addition ALDE British Christian citizenry citizens clear cohesion Community Community institutions competition complete concrete conservatives construction continue countries create culture defended demanded democratic dimension direct divisive economic effect elections electoral Eurogroups Europarties Europe European integration example expansion fact favourable federal Finally forces formation French German given greater Greens hand hence ideological immigrants important increase institutions interests intergovernmental internal issues Italy Labour less liberal limited majority manifesto means mentioned national parties nationalist objective opinion organised Parliament perspective pillar Poland policies political positions possible powers present principle problems proposed question reasons reference regarding regions regulations rejected relation respect sense social sovereignty specific strengthening structural supranational Table third traditional Union United votes