Bøger i Routledge/ECPR Studies in European Political Science serien

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.

Brings together country specialists, researchers on the European Union, and international relations scholars to tackle a crucial question: how compatible are the new patterns of 'policy networks' and 'multi-level' governance with democratic standards?

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. Focussing on its micro-level causes and consequences, the book's international contributors argue that social capital is fundamentally concerned with the value of social networks and about how people interact with each other. The book suggests that different modes of participation have different consequences for creating - or destroying - a sense of community or participation. The diversity of countries, institutions and groups dealt with - from Indian castes to Dutch churches, from highly competent 'everyday makers' in Scandinavia to politics-avoiding Belgian women and Irish villagers - offers fascinating case studies, and theoretical reflections for the present debates about civil society and democracy.

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.

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.

Provides an analysis of Social Democratic governments, examining the policies they have adopted and assessing the extent of similarity and convergence in policy-making among the different countries. Includes case studies.

This book looks critically at administrative reform in a comparative perspective. The contributors assess its scope and objectives, and the ways in which these reforms have impacted on the traditional roles of civil servants.

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

Drawing upon the literatures of role analysis, international relations and European integration, this book develops a conceptual framework for considering and evaluating the roles played by the EU in international politics. It delivers a perspective on the analysis of the European Union as an international actor.

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.

'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.