Managing Europe from home : the changing face of European policy making under Blair and Ahern / Scott James.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

James, Scott, author.

Series:

European policy research unit series.

European policy research unit series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Blair, Tony, 1953-.

Blair, Tony.

Ahern, Bertie, 1951-.

Ahern, Bertie.

Policy sciences.

Europe--Politics and government--1989-.

Europe.

Great Britain--Politics and government--1997-2007.

Great Britain.

Ireland--Politics and government--21st century.

Ireland.

Europe--Economic integration--History--20th century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 210 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Manchester ; New York : Manchester University Press, 2011.

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

As two of the longest-serving prime ministers in Europe, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern were in power during one of the most tumultuous periods of European integration. This book offers an insight into how they responded to the demands and opportunities of European Union (EU) membership at the national level. Drawing on extensive interviews with key figures, it explores how the two leaders sought to radically reshape the EU national policy-making process in the UK and Ireland in order to further their strategic policy agendas. The book therefore asks three key questions. How did the national EU policy process change between 1997 and 2007? To what extent did the UK and Irish policy processes converge or diverge? Did the reforms enhance the projection of national policy? These empirical and comparative questions are related to broader theoretical and conceptual debates concerning Europeanisation. By employing conceptual and analytical frameworks, the book considers what these reforms tell us about the nature of the 'EU effect' in different member states. Do governments simply adjust to EU-level pressures for change or try to adapt strategically in order to maximise their influence? Are the changes attributable to political agency or do they derive from longer-term structural developments in Brussels?

Contents:

Copyright; Contents; Boxes, figures and tables; Preface; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; 1. Introducing the study; 2. Setting the scene: the politics of Europe in the UK and Ireland; PART 1 Conceptualising the EU effect; 3. The 'strategic-projection' model of Europeanisation; 4. Analysing the national EU policyprocess; PART 2 Adapting to Europe; 5. Mapping the network: strategic agendas and codes of conduct; 6. Vertical networking: redistributing strategic resources; 7. Horizontal networking: reconfiguring coordination; Part III Explaining adaptation.

8. Singing from the same hymn sheet? Evaluating adaptation strategy9. Structure or agency? Measuring the EU effect; 10. Conclusion; References; Index.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 28 Apr 2026).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781781702635

1781702632

9781847794239

1847794238

OCLC:

818847553