Title: Political parties and Euroscepticism /
Authors: Topaloff, Liubomir K., 1973-
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan,
Year: 2012
Subjects: European Union Public opinion.; Political parties European Union countries; Public opinion European Union countries; Comparative politics Europe EU (European Union); Démocratisation.; EU & European institutions Europe EU (European Union); Euroscepticisme.; Euroskeptizismus; International economic integration Political aspects; International economic integration Public opinion; Partei; Partis politiques.; Political parties Europe EU (European Union); Political parties; POLITICAL SCIENCE Political Process Political Parties.; Politics and government; Politics and Government.; Populisme.; Public opinion; UE/CE Etats membres.; UE/CE Intégration.; Europe Economic integration Political aspects.; European Union countries Economic integration Public opinion.; European Union countries Politics and government
Abstract: 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 studies 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.
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.