Books in the Routledge Advances in European Politics series

In European policy-making, the Nordic countries are often viewed as a relatively coherent bloc; in international and European affairs the Nordic position has traditionally been conditioned on being different from and better than Europe. This book offers a coherent, original and systematic comparative analysis of the relationship between the Nordic countries and the European Union over the past two decades. It looks at the historical frame, institutions and policy areas, addressing both traditional EU areas such as agriculture and more nascent areas affecting the domestic and foreign policies of the Nordic countries. In doing so, it examines how the Nordic approach to European policy-making has developed and explains why the Nordic countries are similar in some respects while differing in others when engaging with EU institutions. In highlighting the similarities and differences between the Nordic countries it explores what lessons - positive and negative - may be drawn from this approach for the Nordic countries and other small states. This book will be of interest to scholars, students and practitioners engaged with the Nordic Countries, EU politics and policy-making, European politics and comparative politics.

This book provides a detailed study of the attempts that have been made by Spain, to regain the sovereignty of 'the Rock', despite the wishes of the Gibraltarians.

Draws on the insights from the theoretically-informed literature on the EU's eastern enlargement.

Who shapes the European Union¿s policy towards Latin America? How has this EU policy modified individual member states¿ relations with the region? This book provides a comparative account of seven member states¿ bilateral links with Latin America since 1945, in the context of their EU membership and based on the concept of `Europeanization¿.

Ranging from influence over trade laws affecting health to population health issues such as obesity to using comparative data to affect policy, the EU's public health policies are increasingly important, visible and effective. This collection capitalizes on extensive new research, providing an introduction to the topic and indicating future directions.

This comparative book draws on the European Social Survey to examine what kinds of societal forces shape an individuals' relationship towards political life and develops a theoretical perspective on the relationship between social structure and democracy, linking this to research on social capital and political behavior.

This volume offers an analysis of the activities of the international community in the Balkans since the 1995 Dayton Agreement.

Exploring the influences, which have helped created a Gibraltarian sense of identity, this book focuses on geographical; environmental; political; economic; ethnic and religious factors; as well as Britain's imperial presence.

Traces the development of e-government and its applications across Europe, exploring the effects of information and communication technology (ICTs) upon political action and processes. This book also features case studies on the progress of e-government in countries such as UK, France, Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands, Portugal and Greece.

Using a detailed analysis of the writings of Nietzsche, Elbe argues that Nietzsche's thinking about Europe can illuminate our understanding. He demonstrates Nietzsche's critique of nationalism and the notion of the 'good European'.

Drawing upon systematic research using Q Methodology in seven countries, this volume presents results of the most extensive effort yet at cross-cultural, subjective assessment of national and supranational identity.

"This book examines the Europeanization of the polity and politics of a new EU Member State. Using social network analysis in a comparative research design, it provides a systematic analysis of the effects of Europeanization on the institutions, policy processes, power constellation and conflict among national elites"--

Focuses on the politics of ratification of EU Treaties and reviews the processes of ratification of EU primary legislation. This book contains cases explore the Treaties of Rome and Paris and the so far, failed EU constitution.

This book examines the views of national parties towards the European Union and the different facets of a supranational citizenship. It provides an in-depth investigation into the variations to the cross-national patterns in eleven countries, including old and new member states and different EU regions.

"This book evaluates the present European Union (EU) approach to state-building, both in policy and operation. It offers a review of the literature on (EU) peace building, EU, state-building and conflict resolution, before examining in detail the European Union's role as a state-builder in the case of the Occupied Palestinian Territories; following the 1993 Oslo Accords"--

Examines the impact of membership of the EU on Portugal. This title explores the adjustments and transformations that have taken place in the Portuguese society, politics and economics as well as its international relations.

This book examines the phenomenon of irregular immigration, and provides a comprehensive picture of the practices and the implications of detention of migrants within and on the borders of the European Union.

This book examines new approaches to the EU's foreign policy that address its rapidly changing character, presenting the newest theoretical perspectives and dealing with novel empirical developments. Rather than simply considering structural variations and changes in the agency of the EU, it explores the new complexity in EU foreign policy.

This book examines the evolution of Spanish foreign policy since 1975, through five different presidencies, spanning its transformation from a dictatorial political system and backward economy to a modern European state, fully democratic and with a well-functioning market economy, under strain from the Eurozone Sovereign Debt crisis. It explains how domestic developments and external factors have combined to shape Spain¿s international relations, assessing the impact of EU membership and providing an example of how middle powers can pursue their foreign policy objectives in the international system.

This book focuses on a central question: are the classical secularist arrangements well-equipped to tackle the challenge of fast-growing religious pluralism? Or should we move to new post-secular arrangements when dealing with pluralism in Europe? Offering an interdisciplinary approach that combines political theory and legal analysis, the authors tackle two interrelated facets of this controversial question. They begin by exploring the theoretical perspective, asking what post-secularism is and looking at its relation to secularism. The practical consequences of this debate are then examined, focusing on case-law through four empirical case studies.

This book addresses this question by empirically assessing and theoretically evaluating the outcomes of the new system. It asks whether there has really been a shift toward a more majoritarian democracy and examines why alternation in power has failed to produce a more efficient and responsive government. It evaluates the connections between cabinet, parliament, parties and citizens, and in doing so, brings together diverse areas of inquiry such as government, legislative, party and public opinion studies. Drawing from comparative theory but also considering the impact of country-specific determinants, it explains the very nature of the Italian government from the point of view of its achievements and its failures.

This book analyses the role of the European Parliament as an international actor and presents a new debate about its role outside the EU territory. It explores different policy areas including human rights, international aid, trade, crisis management and the environment to provide a systematic analysis of the modern global role of the European Parliament. The book also considers the European Parliament¿s regional interactions with Africa, Latin America, the United States, Asia and the Middle East. With a common analytical framework and research covering the lifespan of the European Parliament from its first direct elections in 1979 to the present day, this comprehensive volume presents an unparalleled analysis of one of the most important institutions in the European Union.