Political parties and Euroscepticism / by Liubomir K. Topaloff.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Topaloff, Liubomir K., 1973-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

European Union.

Political parties--European Union countries.

Political parties.

Politics and government.

Public opinion.

European Union countries.

Europe--Economic integration--Political aspects.

Europe.

European Union--Public opinion.

European Union countries--Economic integration--Public opinion.

European Union countries--Politics and government--21st century.

Public opinion--European Union countries.

Physical Description:

xx, 258 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

Summary:

What drives party-based euroscepticism and why are some small parties eurosceptic even if they are not located in the margins, whilst other marginal parties are not? What makes mainstream opposition parties careful not to appear eurosceptic? Is Euroscepticism an aberration of politics, an extreme populist ideology, or just politics as usual?

These are some of the topics explored in Political Parties and Euroscepticism. Drawing on a variety of historical accounts, comparative case studios and textual analysis of over 150 party manifestos, this book examines party-based euroscepticism as an electoral strategy and offers a dynamic theoretical model for analysis. It uses case studies from three West European countries to examine the role of domestic electoral systems and party location as explanatory variables in the theoretical model. Euroscepticism offers a lifeline to some parties, whilst it sucks the oxygen from others. It is a strategy that pays off only under certain conditions. This book investigates the conditions under which it works and those under which it doesn't. Book jacket.

Contents:

Introduction

Defining party-based Euroscepticism: structure, processes, and actors

The "dark" side of democratization from below

Euroscepticism: old cleavages or new strategies

The shadow of the future

The spectre of coalitionability.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9780230361768

0230361765

OCLC:

774489918