Books in the Routledge/ECPR Studies in European Political Science series

This new book build a clear understanding of how constitutional decisions taken in the EU are of great societal and scientific relevance. It shows how these decisions have substantial effects on the sovereignty of a growing number of European nation states and on the lives of European citizens, independent of the ratification and coming into force of a constitution.

Some of the leading writers on green political thought discuss the status of democracy within Green political thought, and the institutions that might be necessary to ensure democracy in a sustainable society.

The European Commission is an organization which has come to fascinate or repulse a range of national politicians, journalists and social scientists. In contrast to the prevailing image of the Commission as a "bureaucrat's paradise" and by using the results of original research, this text investigates this organization's relationship to politics.

Presents an overview of the study of political discussion in comparative politics. This book studies deliberation and discussion as the object of analysis. It makes a significant contribution toward broader theories of political communication, deliberative democracy, discussion networks analyses, and political behaviour.

Offers insights into interactions between states and non-state actors including domains beyond intergovernmental organizations, conventional non-governmental organizations, and multinational enterprises. This book covers a range of arrangements, from formal devolutions of power to lax and informal platforms of interaction between private actors.

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.

This timely volume provides one of the first critical assessments of the draft Constitution (released by the Convention on the future of Europe) from the vantage point of political theory.

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.

The first comparative study of the politics of policy innovation in the field of unemployment. The contributors provide a thorough and lucid analysis of past government failures, and look to possible future strategies.

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?

It offers a valuable and long overdue assessment of the role of political parties in the theory and practice of consociational demococracy. Combining valuable theoretical and comparative analyses with sensitive in-depth case studies.

The volume seeks to determine the ways in which IO's contribute to the solution of global problems by influencing international decision-making in ways that go beyond the lowest common denominator of national interests.

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. An up-to-date insight into the present debates about civil society and democracy.

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.

Provides a detailed examination of policy change with European and American case studies on welfare reform, education reform, the World Bank, tobacco control policy, energy policy, agricultural policy, pension reform and the impact of public opinion.

Greatly expanding the scope for research into collective action, this volume will be of great interest to students and researchers of politics and sociology interested in this important area.

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

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.

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 offers a cross-national analysis of contemporary issues and challenges for the governing of urban regions.

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.

The European Union is one of the world's biggest economies. However, its role as an international actor is ambiguous and it's not always able to transform its political power into effective external policies. This book systematically links the EU's external relations to political theories, and shows how the theories need to be modified.

Examines the experience of democracy in developing countries such as Mexico, Zambia, India and Indonesia. This book considers the patchy democratic record of such countries, and investigates the relationship between external and domestic factors to democratisation. It assesses the importance of a number of key variables to democratic progress.

This book examines the issues of constitutional choice that face the governments and citizens of today's Europe. It discusses the meaning of democratic deficit in the EU and the rights of citizenship that should be protected.

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.

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.

How much is democracy dependent upon supportive economic and social conditions? This volume covers key issues in the field of comparative politics such as: economic development and democracy; globalization and democracy; class and democracy; and state and democracy.

An examination of the vital role played by some of the countries in the semi-periphery within the global order. The text examines their responses and reactions to global change, and the place of regionalism within their foreign economic policy.