New Horizons in European Politics series – serie

In this timely book, Marco Siddi expertly navigates topics of European energy politics, drawing on pressing issues from times of unprecedented crisis. From the war in Ukraine to worsening climate change, he illustrates the intense pressure the EU is under to accelerate its green transition, and explores the potential obstacles that may arise on the road to energy security.Siddi provides a wealth of critical analysis on the rise and decline of EU-Russia energy relations; the nature of the EU’s actorness in both domestic and external energy policy; and the opportunities and challenges of the energy transition for the European continent. The geopolitical consequences of the energy transition are adeptly examined, and the book highlights the critical need for the EU to adopt well-calibrated policies and develop multidimensional international partnerships to obtain access to key supply chains and promote a just global energy transition.With a comprehensive and thorough analysis of contemporary EU energy policy, this book will prove essential to academics and students interested in international relations, energy policy, regulation and governance, European politics and public policy. It will also be a vital resource to practitioners and diplomats working on energy and climate issues in national ministries, European union institutions, and diverse international organisations.

With novel insights into the ambitions and objectives behind President Jean-Claude Juncker’s European Commission, this innovative book elucidates how the Commission has transcended the concept of ‘ever closer union’ in its attempts to adopt a future-proof EU reform agenda in the highly contested fields of migration and economic policy.Focusing on migration and economic governance policies, the book analyses policy-maker interviews, Commission publications, and policy negotiation processes. It finds the Juncker Commission to be highly ambitious and political, in contrast to its more technocratic predecessors. In place of a self-empowering supranational agenda, it argues that the Commission has adopted a reform agenda, seeking to empower new EU bodies and actively build policy coalitions. Given that this shift in ambition was driven by external contexts, the book predicts that future Commissions will follow a similar path, providing insights into how this may be balanced with Member State ambition. With novel empirical analyses and original contributions to debates on new intergovernmentalism, new supranationalism, and liberal intergovernmentalism, this book will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of European politics, EU integration, international relations, political economy, and governance.

Applying realist constructivist theory, this innovative book investigates the migration–development nexus in the European Union’s approach to cooperation with its external partner countries. It explores the reasons why action in this field appears to be irrational and counterproductive and surveys contemporary political dialogues and funding.Combining migration and development policy research, it examines policies and practices on both an international and domestic level. Chapters cover major trends in crisis management and long-term impacts funding between 1985 and 2020, outlining a clear tendency for the EU to bring together ideas, identities and knowledge with self-interest and strategic action. The author introduces two novel concepts: leveraged statecraft and migration statecraft, which amalgamate theoretical traditions in order to construct recognition and partnerships. Case studies analysed in this book include the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of states; the African Union; the European Neighbourhood; the Rabat, Budapest, and Prague processes; and bilateral mobility partnerships.Balancing theory and practice, this is an indispensable read for scholars of European politics and policy, international relations, international political economy, migration, and development studies. It is also highly beneficial to policymakers in the EU as well as external cooperation specialists.

In this forward-thinking book, Rafał Riedel and Jakub Anusik explore the dynamics and determinants of one of the most salient issues facing contemporary Europe: differentiated integration. Going beyond static models of differentiated integration in Europe built on legal-institutional criteria, Riedel and Anusik capture the dynamism of the system by employing both a political economy perspective and the varieties of capitalism framework.Comparative in approach, the book brings together a wide range of scholarship on differentiated integration and varieties of capitalism to explore the diversities across Germany, Poland, Switzerland and the UK. Riedel and Anusik explain the correlations and causality between the level, scope, and depth of differentiation in the European integration process, as well as the socio-economic parameters that define the varieties of capitalism in specific EU Member States. Ultimately, they find that these inter-dependencies are dynamic and reveal a wealth of interesting features, especially in the post-Brexit era.Interdisciplinary in scope, this book is an essential read for students and scholars of political economy, European politics and policy, international relations, and evolutionary economics. A deep dive into the variety and complexity of differentiation in European integration, it is also of value to policymakers across Europe working in integration.

The EU And The Global Financial Crisis analyses the emerging new political economy of the EU Single Market in the wake of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. The crisis has initiated a new wave of functionalist spillover towards deeper integration in the eurozone, which in effect divides the EU into multiple integrative cores.Providing the first comprehensive examination of the emerging policy framework in the EU and the eurozone after the global financial crisis, this rigorous study applies a neofunctionalist approach to the analysis of the crisis implications by considering the emergence of the system of multiple cores in the EU as a result of the return of political spillover. It outlines the EU's post-crisis varieties of capitalism and examines the effects of the financial crisis on selected key economies in the Single Market.This authoritative book offers a complete breakdown of the EU's political economy in the wake of the global financial crisis and will therefore appeal to students of European politics, international political economy and European studies, as well as policy-makers and other stakeholders.

Building the Knowledge Economy in Europe investigates the dynamics of emerging knowledge policy domains on the European political agenda, and the dynamics of this in relation to knowledge policies. This volume brings together leading experts who address the two central pillars of the 'Europe of Knowledge', research and higher education, to reveal the vertical, horizontal and sequential tensions in European knowledge governanceThis book is the first comparative volume on European research and higher education policies. The chapters cover topics such as the idea of the European Research Area, sustainability of the Bologna Process, institution building for a Europe of Knowledge, domestic impact of EU level initiatives, and the role of the crisis in the European Higher Education Area. It accounts for the creation of key institutions administering EU funding and addresses the core issues of European integration in the knowledge domains.This thought provoking book will engage academic readers interested in European integration analyzed from general political science, administrative science, organization theory perspectives as well as in higher education and science studies. National policy-makers, European policy-makers and practitioners will also find much policy-relevant content, particularly because the European Research Area is formally scheduled to be completed by 2014.Contributors include: M.-H. Chou, M. Elken, Å. Gornitzka, H.F. Hansen, C. Hoareau, J. Metz, J. Real-Dato, M. Vukasovic

This ground breaking book looks at the way in which the Committee of Regions (CoR) can influence EU policy making from below, despite its relatively weak position in the decision-making process. In essence, the authors argue that the CoR plays a significant role in the EU's political process, going well beyond its formally limited advisory function.By applying theoretical considerations about the expression of judgment and the formation of will in democratic systems, the authors develop a normative argument about why it is opportune that local and regional concerns be involved in shaping European Union decisions. Moreover, by looking at the institutional development of the Committee, and by analyzing its contribution in key policy areas, the book shows why the CoR is already a very important element of the multi-level democratic system of the European Union.Academics, researchers and students will benefit from the up-to-date analysis of the CoR. Functionaries in the EU institutions, European regions and localities, state bureaucracies and political party members will find the new insights provided in this book to be of interest.

Exploring the EU's Legitimacy Crisis provides a profound analysis of the causes and the consequences of the EU's growing legitimacy problem. Since the onset of the eurozone crisis the EU's governance has been narrowly driven by the semi-hegemonial leadership of Germany - manifesting itself in functionalist and technocratic policy reforms concentrated on strengthening economic governance coordination. Other crucial policy areas have been neglected as member states show decreasing solidarity and a growing emphasis on national interests in response to mounting external challenges. This book examines these developments in detail by scrutinising the EU's ability to maintain legitimacy through political leadership, democratic accountability and governance efficiency.This state-of-the-art exploration of the EU's internal and external challenges, including the eurozone and the migration crisis, provides critical analysis of the EU's leadership in the context of diverging national interests. The author outlines the essential background to understanding the rise in euroscepticism in the EU and provides an insightful analysis of the 2014 European Parliament election Spitzenkandidaten system.A comprehensive critical analysis of the latest developments in the EU's major policy areas in terms of their problem-solving capacity and democratic legitimacy is also included. This timely exploration of the reality of the EU's governance in light of persistent crises will appeal to students, academics and practitioners interested in the development of the EU, its member states and European politics more generally.

Based on an extended agonistic pluralism perspective, this book offers a novel notion of a transnational public sphere that goes beyond the questions of whether a European public sphere exists or is possible and instead provides a solid understanding of its key features. This book offers an alternative concept of European integration based on the idea of integrative and constitutive conflicts. Not only an exploration of the emerging European public sphere, this groundbreaking book evaluates the outcomes of the EU polices aiming to create it as well as the trans-European networks' efforts to become a pan-European civil society. Expert contributors also explore the European public sphere's contribution to democracy and present enhanced empirical knowledge of the role of supranational institutions and pan-European networks in facilitating European integration, thus challenging the liberal intergovernmentalist, neo-functionalist and multi-level governance approaches.Integration, Diversity and the Making of a European Public Sphere will be of interest to scholars and upper level students of European studies, politics and public policy. Global, regional and national civil society organizations, think tanks and media corporations will also find value in this book.Contributors include: W. Dressler, D.N. Duru, M. Klicperova-Baker, J. Kostal, M. Mokre, M. Perez, R. Sata, H.G. Sicakkan, H.-J. Trenz, J.H. van de Beek, F. Vermeulen

In this thought-provoking book, José M. Magone investigates the growing political, economic and social divisions between the core countries of the European Union and the southern European periphery. He examines the major hindrances that are preventing the four main southern European countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece) from keeping up with the increasing pace of European integration, and the effects that this is having on democratic governance.Offering a comprehensive comparative overview of southern European politics over the past two decades, the book analyses the impact of the EU's political economy on democracy in the region, in particular the consequences of the Eurocrisis and the economic instability of the 2010s. It argues that these countries have failed to proactively initiate necessary strategic reforms in order to prevent economic and democratic stagnation, and have especially struggled to cope with the changing realities of Europeanization and the demands of Economic and Monetary Union.Students and scholars of European politics will find this book useful and insightful, in particular those interested in southern Europe’s political economy and Europeanization. It will also be beneficial for policy makers working in southern European governments and organizations.

The Americanization of European Union Democracy Promotion: Ideology, Diversity, and United States Hegemony is a timely and thought-provoking exploration of the origins, development and growing prominence of international democracy promotion in the past hundred years.Building upon the vast literature on the topic, chapters look at the EU as a global governance actor and map its multilevel governance system in democracy promotion, contextualising and comparing this with the United States hegemonic design, which has become a fundamental instrument of national foreign policy in the past two decades. Creating a comprehensive understanding of the similarities and differences between the EU and US approaches, José M. Magone examines various EU models of democracy, analysing how different national democracy understandings in Europe coexist with the technocratic liberal European one. The book ultimately argues that since 2004 the EU has aligned with a more aggressive ideological US hegemonic model of democracy promotion that has its roots in Wilsonian international liberalism.Considering the pivotal role of the United States’ hegemonic design on EU democracy promotion, this book will be invaluable to students and scholars of international relations, European and US politics, global governance and democratization. It will also prove vital for policymakers looking into the role the EU could play in strengthening non-national global governance in the long run.

The dramatic decline of democracy in East-Central Europe (ECE) has attracted worldwide attention, presenting a significant challenge to European models of liberal democracy. This timely book tackles the heart of this region's complexity, unpacking the socio-economic, political and cultural developments of the ECE countries.Attila Ágh demonstrates the key turning point in 2010, when the region's political trajectory shifted from chaotic democracy to authoritarian rule. Moving beyond the narrow spectrum of political 'event history' deployed by ECE parties and governments, the author offers a complex analysis of the changes to the region, exploring the deep, systemic causes of hard populism. Examining the fascinating relationship between ECE countries, Europe and the world, Ágh outlines the future of democracy in the region, exploring perspectives of re-democratization by the new generation raised under the auspices of EU democracy.Declining Democracy in East-Central Europe provides researchers in both political and European studies with a unique insight into the rapidly diverging pathways of European democracies. Ágh's detailed approach to the ECE region will also benefit experts in regional studies, moving beyond political narratives of individual countries and analysing the region as a whole.

Europe, China, and the Limits of Normative Power is a groundbreaking book, offering insights into European influence regarding China's development, during a period when Europe confronts its most serious political, social, and economic crises of the post-war period. Considering Europe's identity and its future international relevance, this book examines the extent to which Europe s multi-layered governance structure, the normative divergence overshadowing EU-China relations and Europe s crises continue to shape - and often limit - Europe's capacity to inspire China s development. Combining original research, interviews with EU and Chinese officials and academics, and practical experience of European institutional practice, Ferenczy examines EU-China relations in light of recent EU institutional reforms and the EU's continuous efforts to shape a common external policy vision. Drawing on the assessment of Europe as a 'normative power' this book reflects on the notions of European identity and global influence in the context of substantial shifts in power. As Europe grapples with internal challenges, and China emerges as a global power, Ferenczy avoids the trap of dismissing Europe as facing inevitable decline on the one hand and uncritical affirmations of China's emergence as a global power on the other. Instead, taking both a constructivist and realist approach, Europe, China, and the Limits of Normative Power highlights the power of ideas at the heart of European normative power, as well as the power of interest, which is thoroughly relevant to China's global aspirations. While a fragile and fragmented Europe has become more vulnerable to Chinese influence, China's motivations to maximize national interests cannot be dissociated from the social element of its interaction with Europe and its power of example, where norms matter.

For readers interested in an overview of what led to the adoption of the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and its aftermath, this book traces the discursive dynamics and milestones of the negotiations around the MFF and the new recovery instrument, aimed at alleviating the economic crisis caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.Covering the negotiations of the current MFF, contributions by both scholarly experts in their respective policy areas and authors close to the policy community in Brussels provide a well rounded insight into this discerning topic. Chapters explore the issues that unfolded during the negotiations of the MFF and recovery package against the backdrop of conflicts over solidarity, identity and sovereignty and thus the scope of cooperation and membership as well as institutional design and authority. EU Policymaking at a Crossroads anticipates, describes and discursively explains changes in selected policy areas, looking into the negotiations, effects and reflections surrounding them.This timely book will be a highly beneficial read for academics and students in the fields of international relations, European politics and public policy. Scholars specializing in multilevel governance of different policy areas such as sustainability, agriculture and migration will also profit from this comprehensive book.

The role of regions in the European Union has been frequently debated since the 1980s. This comprehensive book provides a thorough overview of the issue from a variety of perspectives, analysing regional governance and territorial dynamics in the EU and its member states. Focusing on the implications of the democratisation-regionalisation nexus, it argues that a 'Europe with the regions' may promote good governance and ameliorate the democratic deficits of the EU.The book's contributions offer a multidisciplinary approach to the study of governance in the EU and highlight the significance of regions and regionalisation for the EU's future. Through a combination of empirical, conceptual, theoretical and normative approaches, chapters address both intra-state and transnational developments to provide a fresh and exciting addition to the literature on new regionalism and democratic theory. Favouring a modest notion of a 'Europe with the regions' rather than the dominant maximalist vision, it embeds these developments in the ongoing debate about the future of the EU.Students and academics exploring regional governance and the EU will find this book's unique conclusions and crucial insights of great value. The book's distinct perspective on European governance will also be of benefit to policy-makers and EU think-tanks.

This unique book explores what subregions are in a European context and what roles they fulfil in relation to the European integration process, exploring how subregional cooperation and integration in Europe largely take place in the shadow of the European integration process. Mats Braun examines how subregions fulfil two specific functions in relation to the European integration process: they compensate for the fact that countries are connected to the European Union in different ways, and they facilitate cooperation in fields where the EU has failed to do so. The book analyses two of the European subregions in detail, the Nordics and the Visegrad, and explores how these groups gain legitimacy. Braun suggests that Nordic cooperation is based on perceptions of shared norms relating, among other things, to peace, while the Visegrad Group has become widely known only in the aftermath of the migration crisis and is now developing a new narrative based on protecting Europe. Elaborating on a theoretical framework based on postfunctionalism, this book will be critical reading for scholars and students of European politics and policy, international relations and regional studies. Its focus on the two case studies will also be beneficial for policy makers and analysts interested in the politics of the Nordic and Visegrad countries.

This cutting-edge book explores the practices and socialization of the everyday foreign policy making in the European Union (EU), focusing on the individuals who shape and implement the Common Foreign and Security Policy despite a growing dissension among member states.The authors provide theoretically informed analyses based on up-to-date empirical material from the Political and Security Committee, Council working groups, the European External Action Service, EU delegations, military and civilian missions and operations and EU member state embassies. They illustrate the ways in which European foreign policy is shaped through the daily work of diplomats, exploring the communities of practice that are formed in the process of policy-making in the EU. Combining socialization and practice approaches, the book offers an innovative take on the motivations behind integration at a time of European discord.Providing a unique inside account of diplomatic practices and the coordination of EU foreign policy, this insightful book is crucial reading for students of political science and international relations at all levels seeking to better understand the minutiae of formulating and coordinating EU foreign and security policy. Its empirical analyses will also benefit scholars and researchers interested in European integration and socialization in international organizations, as well as practitioners, such as diplomats and European civil servants.

Identifying a crisis for representative democracy in Western European party systems, this essential book studies the widening gap between political parties’ ideological economic Left-Right rhetoric and their increasing convergence on policymaking. Addressing whether these ideologies are converging or diverging, it answers whether these changes are initiated by the parties themselves, aligned with voter demand, or forced by economic globalization.The crisis of representative democracy in Western Europe is a prevalent issue in comparative politics. This comprehensive study assesses the problems faced by representative democracy by analysing ideological polarization and inter-party conflict in relation to the changing linkage between citizens, parties, and public policies, and the implications this has for representative democracy. Considering both supply-side and demand-side theories, it analyses five major theoretical themes central to the ideological convergence and polarization within party systems, including the cartel party thesis, the median voter theorem, realignment theory, consensus democracy theory, and globalization theory. Going beyond theory, chapters use five decades of empirical research to present new and unique longitudinal and comparative data sets covering eight party systems, ultimately providing a more accurate diagnosis of the vitality of representative democracy in contemporary Western Europe.Combining in-depth theoretical analysis with empirical research, this comprehensive book will prove invaluable to students and scholars of politics and political science, and policymakers concerned with party systems.

Preface by Anton Hemerijck, Professor of Political Science and Sociology, European University Institute, Florence, ItalyWhile for some scholars the Euro crisis dashed the dream of Social Europe, this thought-provoking book proposes a more nuanced assessment, challenging the notion of austerity as the only way forward. Tracing the evolution of the political debate on European social integration and its interplay with the European economic governance after the Euro crisis, it sheds light on the conflict dynamics and political conditions that enabled the progressive shift away from the initial post-crisis EU ‘conservative reflex’, towards a new European holding environment for flourishing welfare states.This timely book provides a detailed reconstruction of the European social agenda after the Great Recession, touching upon budgetary, legislative and coordinative policies and including an in-depth analysis of the EU response to the Covid-19 crisis. Utilising innovative approaches and methodology, Francesco Corti identifies four lines of functional and territorial conflict which characterise the debate on EU social integration. An original focus on the role of the European Parliament in fostering further social integration gives the book an original and insightful perspective.The Politicisation of Social Europe will be a key resource for students and scholars of European politics, political sociology and welfare states, as well as EU officials and policy makers seeking to identify strategies that can facilitate them in pursuing a successful social agenda.

This timely book examines the imminent dangers to European stability: the socio-economic crisis of global production that has reinforced structural inequalities; the climate crisis and its associated environmental degradation; and the onset and fallout of Covid-19. Placing the triple crisis in the context of EU, European and global geographies, it introduces a new conceptual framework to describe continuing systemic crisis and change in the EU. Based on a rich and varied array of source material, Attila Ágh offers a new insight into the future of European politics through twin conceptual pillars: ‘Awaking Europe’, which describes a Re-United Europe that brings together its key regions; and ‘Emerging Europe’, which refers to the upgrading of EU mechanisms to shape Europe as a global player through multilateralism. Presenting an integrative analysis of the triple crisis and its management, it describes and dissects the overarching creative crisis of the EU and the major direction of the Union’s strategy for renewal. Incisive and provocative, this book is critical reading for scholars and researchers in political science, European studies and economics, particularly those focusing on EU economic policy and the relationships between global powers. It will also benefit policymakers looking for innovative approaches to social investment and sustainable development.

Despite the recent wealth of literature on national populism, research has often overlooked one crucial aspect: the border. This innovative book bridges these key concepts, providing a new theoretical conceptualisation of the interplay between populism, nationalism and territorial borders.In this book, borders are not considered as mere institutional boundaries between nation states; on the contrary, the authors adopt a multi-dimensional view of borders as narratives, issues and territorial spaces of mobilisation. Reconsidering the contemporary politicisation of borders in Western Europe, the authors investigate how national populism deals with territorial borders and the various meanings they embody. Empirical case studies focusing on the Swiss borderlands explore parties’ programmes and discourses, representatives’ attitudes, as well as public opinion and voting behaviour, offering key insights into how political actors and citizens react to trends such as growing transnational flows, globalisation and European integration. This timely book, based on original party sources and surveys, will be an essential resource for students and scholars of political science, political sociology, border studies, European integration, Euroscepticism and Swiss politics. Its context-oriented analysis will also prove beneficial to practitioners and representatives involved in cross-border cooperation.

This enlightening new book unpacks the ascendancy of the European Union as a distinct actor in the field of international sanctions. Offering an innovative model of actorness, Kevin Urbanski establishes a coherent bridge between debates on actorness and mainstream theories of international institutions and European integration.Inspired by James S. Coleman's idea of corporate agency, Urbanski addresses the conceptual gap in scholarship by outlining a deductive, integrative and explanatory model of actorness, arguing that actorness constitutes a distinct mode of collective agency that can be modelled along the lines of corporate action. Urbanski's model of actorness explains the emergence of EU actorness and sheds light on the timing and reasoning behind this for the most commonly used European sanction instruments.Presenting an original and theoretically grounded approach to the problem of actorness, this book will be of critical use to scholars grappling with this problem, especially those working in the field of EU politics. Scholars of international sanctions and EU law, as well as practitioners working in these fields, will also benefit from Urbanski's comprehensive overview of EU restrictive measures and his unique approach to actorness.