The Eurosceptic 2014 European Parliament Elections


Book Description

This edited collection explores the role of Euroscepticism in the European Parliament (EP) elections of 2014 both in particular EU Member States and across broader regions. It shows how the “second rate” features of elections with no clear agenda-setting role facilitated the astonishing success of Eurosceptic parties while the traditionally “second order” nature of purely legislative elections amplified this outcome, giving it a quite different character than the outcome of any previous EP elections, with potential in turn to affect outcomes of later national elections as well. The chapters draw on a number of different methodological approaches and focus on different perspectives regarding how Euroscepticism played a role in the election context, investigating public opinion, party strategies and media coverage; and assessing how these elections created links to national party politics with likely consequences for electoral success of Eurosceptic parties in future national elections and referendums. This book will be of particular interest to students and scholars in the fields of European politics, voting behavior Euroscepticism.




How to Run the European Parliament


Book Description

DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS BY POLITICAL LEADERS: How do you gain influence and publicity in the European Parliament? How do you compete successfully with the Council and the Commission? How can you use reporters and lobbyists to advance your political career? How to Run the European Parliament offers a unique look behind the scenes and reveals the secret tactics and manoeuvres Members of the European Parliament need to master in order to prevail. This brutally honest tutorial is a must-read for all MEPs, assistants, public servants, lobbyists, and journalists who want to understand how power politics is played. JACEK SARYUSZ-WOLSKI | Vice-President of the European People''s Party "Achieving success as an MEP, both nationally and within the EU, requires many skills - mastering the nuances of the legislative process, negotiating with impact, building networks, maximizing support and votes, organizing day-to-day functioning with optimal results, and many more. Marilyn Political''s insightful tutorial captures these nuances in one book that every aspiring MEP and his collaborators should read." ALEXANDER GRAF LAMBSDORFF | Vice-President of the European Parliament "Unique and impressive. An absolute must-read for all new Members of the European Parliament." PETRI SARVAMAA | Vice-Chair of the European Parliament''s Committee on Budgets "Astonishing read! It''s merciless, unforgiving, and so true. As an MEP I could not imagine a better guide into ways of influencing political decision-making in Brussels. I regularly go back to the advice of the book. And I make sure all my advisers and assistants know the text by heart." MARKUS FERBER | Vice-Chair of the European Parliament''s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs "How to Run the European Parliament provides an informed insight on what happens behind the curtains. From negotiation strategies to shaping public perceptions - this book is the perfect read if you want to gain an in-depth understanding of how European policy making actually works." LINN�A ENGSTR�M | Vice-Chair of the European Parliament''s Committee on Fisheries "This book will teach you the mind-set and psychology of the European Parliament. Being a European politician means: relying on good advisers and having the confidence and strength to be patient, generous, and trustworthy. The road to success lies in hard work - and making the right choices. This book will give you exactly the push you need, and the direction to set you on the right path." ANDREY NOVAKOV | Member of the European Parliament "One of the most get-to-the-point, useful, and must-have political books I have in my library." IVAN STEFANEC | Member of the European Parliament "The book is a very useful and enjoyable reading, particularly for newcomers to the European Parliament. It is a good overview of parliamentarian activities. It reassured me about what I was doing right and where I should improve." JON�S FERN�NDEZ | Member of the European Parliament "This book makes for fascinating - and funny - reading. More importantly, it is quite useful, particularly for newcomers. I highly recommend it to any new MEP as absolutely essential. It provides quite a number of practical suggestions, and not to be underestimated, a fair amount of laughing, something that should never be in short supply when working at the European Parliament." SANDER LOONES | Vice-Chair of the European Parliament''s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs "The European House of Cards, but with a healthy portion of pragmatism." LOOK INSIDE THE BOOK: www.marilynpolitical.com/publications




The European Parliament Election of 2019 in East-Central Europe


Book Description

This book provides an analysis of the European Parliament elections 2019 with a focus on East-Central European countries. The authors offer conceptual insights into Euroscepticism and discuss traditionally familiar concepts in a new light, pairing East-Central European Euroscepticism with visions of illiberal democracy, on the one hand, and showing the increasing Europeanisation of Eurosceptic parties in the region, on the other. The book combines a fresh and innovative conceptual treatment with rich and accurate empirical evidence in order to highlight the dynamics of Euroscepticism in "new" EU member states. Students and experts interested in EU politics, within academia and beyond, will find this volume particularly informative.




The European Union


Book Description

The European Union: How Does it Work? is the perfect introduction to the EU's structure and operations for those coming to the subject for the first time. Leading scholars and practitioners cut through the complexity to explain how the EU really works and why it matters. The third edition of this successful textbook has been updated in light of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and the effects of the financial crisis on the Eurozone. It includes three new chapters, on the policy-making process, democracy in the EU, and EU internal and external security. Student understanding of the main actors, policies and developments is aided by the inclusion of helpful learning features throughout the text. The European Union: How Does it Work is also supported by an Online Resource Centre with the following features: For students: - Multiple choice questions - Flash card glossary For registered adopters of the textbook - Seminar questions and activities - PowerPoint® presentations




The Politics of the European Union


Book Description

An introduction to the European Union from a comparative politics perspective, systematically analysing its functioning through comparison with national political systems.




Assessing the 2019 European Parliament Elections


Book Description

Informed by and against the backdrop of the 2019 European Parliament (EP) elections, this innovative book provides a critical assessment of where Europe stands in terms of the quest to achieve democratic legitimacy. Since the 2014 EP elections, the European Union (EU) has experienced multiple crises, which arguably have undermined its legitimacy. The 2019 EP elections were hence seen as a crucial moment in the EU's attempts to show resilience and regain trust. Using political science and legal frames of analysis, Assessing the 2019 European Parliament Elections provides an understanding and assessment of the current politico-legal framework, and its impact on European elections. Furthermore, using original data, it provides a timely examination of public opinion issue priorities and voting behaviour at the 2019 EP elections in eight countries. Given the critical conjuncture that the 2019 EP elections represent, this volume provides a key contribution to understanding both the dynamics surrounding the elections, as well as voters' responses, and informs debates on European politics, for example, second-order elections, democratic legitimacy and political representation. This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of EU politics, public administration, European studies, European law, and sociology, along with practitioners in politics, journalism, and policy analysis.




The European Union Explained


Book Description

“An informative, well-paced, and clearly articulated narrative of the European Union’s development” (Jennifer Yoder, Colby College). This brief and accessible introduction to the European Union is ideal for anyone who needs a concise overview of the structure, history, and policies of the EU. This updated edition includes a new chapter on the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone. Andreas Staab offers basic terms and interpretive frameworks for understanding the evolution of the EU; the overall structure, purpose, and mandate of its main constituent divisions; and key policy areas, such as market unification and environmental policy. “Readers in America and Europe alike will benefit from the very considerable expertise revealed in these pages.” —Hugh Dykes, House of Lords, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on the European Union “A fine introduction to the European Union and will appeal to a range of collections, from political science and business holdings to college-level collections strong in the media.” —Midwest Book Review




Building Parliament


Book Description




Proportional Representation


Book Description

The book offers an in-depth study of the translation of vote counts into seat numbers in proportional representation systems – an approach guided by practical needs. It also provides plenty of empirical instances illustrating the results. It analyzes in detail the 2014 elections to the European Parliament in the 28 member states, as well as the 2009 and 2013 elections to the German Bundestag. This second edition is a complete revision and expanded version of the first edition published in 2014, and many empirical election results that serve as examples have been updated. Further, a final chapter has been added assembling biographical sketches and authoritative quotes from individuals who pioneered the development of apportionment methodology. The mathematical exposition and the interrelations with political science and constitutional jurisprudence make this an apt resource for interdisciplinary courses and seminars on electoral systems and apportionment methods.




Parliament and Parliamentarism


Book Description

Parliamentary theory, practices, discourses, and institutions constitute a distinctively European contribution to modern politics. Taking a broad historical perspective, this cross-disciplinary, innovative, and rigorous collection locates the essence of parliamentarism in four key aspects—deliberation, representation, responsibility, and sovereignty—and explores the different ways in which they have been contested, reshaped, and implemented in a series of representative national and regional case studies. As one of the first comparative studies in conceptual history, this volume focuses on debates about the nature of parliament and parliamentarism within and across different European countries, representative institutions, and genres of political discourse.