Bøger i Routledge/ECPR Studies in European Political Science serien

The first comparative study of the politics of policy innovation in the field of unemployment. The contributors provide a thorough and lucid analysis of past government failures, and look to possible future strategies.

Drawing on case studies from Denmark, The Netherlands and the UK, this book discusses new information and communication technologies. It explores their role in the restructuring of Western democratic political systems.

This timely volume provides one of the first critical assessments of the draft Constitution (released by the Convention on the future of Europe) from the vantage point of political theory.

'Electronic Democracy' analyses the impact of new information and communication technologies within representative democracy, such as political parties, pressure groups, new social movements, and executive and legislative bodies. Comparative studies focus on the UK, US, Sweden, Germany, Korea and Australia.

The contributors to this study address the question of how poliical theory is relevant to the construction of new Europe and the tie-in issues of citizenship, social justice and political legitimacy.

Offers insights into interactions between states and non-state actors including domains beyond intergovernmental organizations, conventional non-governmental organizations, and multinational enterprises. This book covers a range of arrangements, from formal devolutions of power to lax and informal platforms of interaction between private actors.

Presents an overview of the study of political discussion in comparative politics. This book studies deliberation and discussion as the object of analysis. It makes a significant contribution toward broader theories of political communication, deliberative democracy, discussion networks analyses, and political behaviour.

The European Commission is an organization which has come to fascinate or repulse a range of national politicians, journalists and social scientists. In contrast to the prevailing image of the Commission as a "bureaucrat's paradise" and by using the results of original research, this text investigates this organization's relationship to politics.

Presents fresh data documenting and analyzing the different positions taken by governments in the development of the European Constitution. This book examines how such decisions have substantial effects on the sovereignty of nation states and on the lives of citizens, independent of the ratification of a constitution.

Administrative reform in most western democracies over the years has been characterized by bringing in market-based concepts of public-service delivery. This book looks at administrative reform in a comparative perspective. It assesses its scope and objectives, and the impact of reforms, on traditional roles of elective office and civil servants.

The book presents a theoretically informed typology of modes of governance which is tested in a careful selection of comparative country and policy studies. At the core is the question whether the European Union is destined to a network type of governance and whether and how this type of governance will be translated into the member states. The individual chapters subject the governing patterns at European and national level to empirical scrutiny. Drawing on recent research findings in different issue areas - including monetary union, social affairs, environment, genetic engineering and market liberalisation in transport, banking, energy, professional services - the contributions highlight the impact of the European activities on policy-making process in the member states.

Explores the promotion of sustainable development as an organizing principle for the emergence of new forms of governance practices in European Union member states and Norway.

Examines the conceptualisations, causes, and consequences of partisanship, one of the most fundamental concepts in contemporary political science. This book also presents a comprehensive account and assessment of partisanship in comparative empirical research.

This book examines the political activities of selected religious actors in Christian, Muslim and Judaist contexts in Europe and the Middle East. It explores the challenges these religious actors face in terms of citizenship, democracy, and secularisation.

The European Commission is an organization which has come to fascinate or repulse a range of national politicians, journalists and social scientists. This book investigates this organization's relationship to politics.

Dietmar Braun is a professor of political science at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Fabrizio Gilardi is a lecturer in political science at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

This volume reflects a variety of views of the nature of sexuality and politics, balancing theoretical chapters with a wide range of case studies including sexuality in the British armed forces, the sexual policies of the Catholic Church

Provides an examination of the initiatives governments are exploring to reform the institutions and procedures of liberal democracy in order to provide more opportunities for political participation and inclusion. This book is aimed at students and researchers of political theory, democracy and comparative politics.

In June 2003, the Convention on the Future of Europe released what may become the Constitution of the European Union. This volume provides critical assessments of the draft Constitution from the vantage point of political theory. It combines institutional analysis with normative political theory.

Looking at the robust relationship between levels of economic development and democracy, this book suggests that globalization is a key variable in determining the tenuous nature of this relationship in the periphery of the world economy. It also raises questions about the role of social classes in democratization.

Provides a detailed examination of policy change with European and American case studies on welfare reform, education reform, the World Bank, tobacco control policy, energy policy, agricultural policy, pension reform and the impact of public opinion.

Looking at the political future of democracy, and the ideas aimed at renewing popular power, this book explores the following themes: the importance of public deliberation in democracies; how effective representation for all might be achieved; and, the role that voluntary associations can play in democratic governance.

This innovative book investigates the paradoxical situation whereby organized crime groups, authoritarian in nature and anti-democratic in practice, perform at their best in democratic countries.

Examines the extent to which member states dominate decision making in international organisations - such as the UN, G8, Council of Europe, the EU, WTO and the OECD. This work assesses the patterns of decision-making to determine whether they are relatively open or closed privileged networks.

Provides a cross-national assessment of the theme of political campaigns and their consequences. This book presents the studies on campaign effects in North America, Europe and Australasia.

Introduces research on democracy from the Comparative Manifestos Project (CMP). This book details the achievements of the project, illustrates how its findings may be applied, lays out the challenges it faces, and examines how the field as a whole can advance. It also presents an special assessment of the dimensionality of party competition.

An examination of the vital role played by some of the countries in the semi-periphery within the global order. The text examines their responses and reactions to global change, and the place of regionalism within their foreign economic policy.

How much is democracy dependent upon supportive economic and social conditions? This volume covers key issues in the field of comparative politics such as: economic development and democracy; globalization and democracy; class and democracy; and state and democracy.

Parliamentary party groups are central actors in most European democracies. This volume analyses the manifestations and operations of these actors across thirteen different countries and in the European parliament.

Regionalist Parties in Western Europe looks in detail at the fortunes of twelve regionalist parties in: the Basque country, Corsica, French speaking Belgium, Scotland, Wales, Catalonia, Flanders, Italy, and South Tyrol.