Bøger i Routledge/ECPR Studies in European Political Science serien

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.

Examines the debates surrounding social capital, social movements and the role of civil society in emerging forms of governance. Divided into three sections, focusing on core aspects of civil society, this book draws on case studies from a range of countries. It is useful for those studying in the fields of political science and social policy.

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.

Provides an exploration of European political parties making the move towards government for the first time.

Helps to understand the rise, future and implications of two kinds of "integrity warriors" - official anti-corruption agencies (ACAs) and anti-corruption NGOs - and to locate them in a context and history of anti-corruption activity.

Explores how intra-party politics affects government formation and termination in parliamentary systems, where the norm is the formation of coalition governments. This book assumes a diversity of preferences among party members and explores the incentives that give rise to coordinated party behavior at the electoral and legislative levels.

Explores how governance structures - domestic political institutions, international peacekeeping efforts, armed interventions by other states - and natural resources affect the onset, dynamics and the termination of civil wars.

Assesses the impact of international organizations in the implementation of internationally agreed policies.

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.

This book examines the issues of constitutional choice that face the governments and citizens of today's Europe. It discusses the meaning of democratic deficit in the EU and the rights of citizenship that should be protected.

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

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.

This timely volume puts emphasis on the effect of social capital on everyday life: how the routines of daily life lead people to get involved in their communities. An up-to-date insight into the present debates about civil society and democracy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Greatly expanding the scope for research into collective action, this volume will be of great interest to students and researchers of politics and sociology interested in this important area.

Some of the leading writers on green political thought discuss the status of democracy within Green political thought, and the institutions that might be necessary to ensure democracy in a sustainable society.

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.

Examines the experience of democracy in developing countries such as Mexico, Zambia, India and Indonesia. This book considers the patchy democratic record of such countries, and investigates the relationship between external and domestic factors to democratisation. It assesses the importance of a number of key variables to democratic progress.

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.

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.

The volume seeks to determine the ways in which IO's contribute to the solution of global problems by influencing international decision-making in ways that go beyond the lowest common denominator of national interests.

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.

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.

The European Union is one of the world's biggest economies. However, its role as an international actor is ambiguous and it's not always able to transform its political power into effective external policies. This book systematically links the EU's external relations to political theories, and shows how the theories need to be modified.

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.