Charlotte Silander – författare

I denna bok analyseras vad det svenska EU-medlem­skapet inneburit för svensk politik sedan inträdet i unionen 1995. Syftet är att studera förändringen av hur svensk politik organiseras och vilket innehåll ett fördjupat medlemskap har inneburit. Utifrån antagandet att svensk politik ingår i ett flernivåstyre på lokal, regional, nationell och europeisk nivå, ligger fokus på mötet mellan svensk nationell politik och EU. Det innebär att boken analyserar dels hur svensk politik styrs och utformas, dels hur politikens innehåll förändrats i mötet mellan svenska politiska institutioner och EU. För att förstå hur svensk politik påverkas, introduceras begreppen europeisering, governance och policyprocesser. Med hjälp av dessa ges möjlighet till en djupare förståelse för hur och varför svensk politik förändrats. Med svensk politik avses följande tolv politikområden : asyl- och migrationspolitik, biståndspolitik och utvecklingssamarbete, brottsbekämpning, energipolitik, grannskapspolitik, jordbrukspolitik, jämställdhetspolitik, miljöpolitik, närings­politik, social­politik, utbildningspolitik samt utrikes- och säkerhetspolitik. Varje politikområde skärskådas över tid från EU-medlemskapets inträde fram till i dag.

Political Entrepreneurship explores the role of political entrepreneurs in regional growth and entrepreneurial diversity. The authors define a political entrepreneur as a politician, bureaucrat or officer within the publicly funded sector who encourages entrepreneurship for growth and employment using innovative approaches. This book aims to enrich the established research on entrepreneurship with in-depth knowledge of the conditions conducive for political entrepreneurship in Sweden.Political entrepreneurs have the potential to be innovative and encourage entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial diversity by fundamentally challenging the prevailing formal and informal institutions. It is argued that, in times of economic stress, political entrepreneurship is essential to find new ways of promoting growth, employment and welfare. By using social science and economics perspectives, this study complements the dominant business administration research on entrepreneurship by increasing our knowledge of the economic and political contexts in which entrepreneurship and private enterprise is conducted.This book is essential reading for students, researchers and policymakers interested in politics, economics and entrepreneurship, as well as for those working in the public sector.Contributors include: D.E. Andersson, S. Andersson, A.E. Andersson, P. Assmo, C. Berggren, T. Bromander, C. Karlsson, M. Nilsson, C. Silander, D. Silander, P. Strömblad, M.-L. von Bergmann-Winberg, Y. von Friedrichs, E. Wihlborg

The recent economic crisis has had severe and negative impacts on the EU over the last decade. This book focuses on a neglected dimension by examining European political entrepreneurship in times of economic crisis with particular emphasis on EU member-states, institutions and policies. Governance and Political Entrepreneurship in Europe examines the role that the political entrepreneur can play in promoting entrepreneurship and growth. The book includes an actor and a structure perspective by focussing on politicians and institutions within the public sector that use innovative approaches to encourage businesses with a goal of growth and employment. This exemplary book is a useful tool for entrepreneurship and political science scholars wishing to gain a better understanding of the ways in which political bodies can impact economic development. EU politicians and public servants would also benefit from reading this timely book as it offers key information on how they can help to promote growth. Contributors include: M. Alebaki, C. Berggren, M.-L. von Bergmann-Winberg, S. Gretzinger, C. Karlsson, B. Leick, A. Olausson, A. Parkhouse, E. Petridou, B. Pircher, C. Silander, D. Silander, P. Strömblad, S. Tavassoli, E. Wihlborg

Since the first elections of 1994, the South African constitution officially guarantees and promotes a wide range of political and civil rights and institutionalizes the separation of powers with an independent judiciary. This has made South Africa a political symbol of change, hope and democracy in Africa and around the world. However, since the introduction of free and fair electoral processes and with ANC dominating the presidency and the parliamentary seats, the political scene has been scattered by democratic challenges. South Africa remains a flawed democracy, combining free elections and respect for basic civil liberties with problems of governance, an underdeveloped political culture, and low levels of public participation.Today, South Africa stands at a crossroads. While the constitutional democracy has survived, South African democracy seems to have weakened by state capture, internal ANC implosion, corruption, societal polarization, social exclusion, xenophobia, and threats of state economic bankruptcy. South Africa faces growing discontent symbolized in intensified societal and political debates, protests and demonstrations providing for the question if this is a sign of dissatisfied citizens demanding deeper democracy or activities questioning the established constitutional democracy from an anti-democratic, populist, and radical point of view.South Africa´s Democracy at the Crossroads explores the question; what are the challenges to future democratization in South Africa?