Contemporary European Politics
A Comparative Introduction
By José Magone
Published August 25th 2010 by Routledge – 656 pages
Description
In this important new introductory textbook, José Magone provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to contemporary European politics.
The unification of the European continent since the Fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and the collapse of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe has changed the nature of European politics. This book seeks to address the new European politics that emerged out of this coming together of West and East.
Utilizing a pan-European comparative approach the book:
- covers key topics, with chapters on the history, theory, institutions, parties and party systems, interest groups, systems of interest intermediation and civil society, the impact of European public policy and the emergence of a European common and foreign policy
- provides detailed comparisons of the national political systems across Europe, including Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans
- contextualises national politics in the growing importance of European integration
- examines the European Union multi-level governance system approach, highlighting relationships and interactions between the global, supranational, national, regional and local levels
- analyses the change from modern politics, in which the nation-state was still in command of domestic politics and its own borders, to postmodern politics in which de-territorialisation , de-nationalisation and internationalisation processes have transformed the national politics of European states
- facilitates learning through a wide range of pedagogical features, including chapter summaries, guides to further reading, questions for revision and extensive use of maps, figures, case studies and tables.
Richly illustrated throughout, this work is an indispensable resource for all students and academics of European politics.
Reviews
A first rate comprehensive introduction to government and politics in the New Europe, highlighting the interconnectedness of the EU and domestic politics and the transformation from national to multilevel governance. - Richard Katz, John Hopkins University, USA
Ambitious in scope, impressive in its mastery of historical detail and contemporary theory, bold in its methods - and highly readable. Magone’s work is destined to become a classic reference for any student of European politics. - David Hanley, Professor Emeritus of European Studies, Cardiff University, UK.
A sweeping buffet of facts and arguments analyzing change in Europe from the 17th century to 2009. A useful blend of theory and empirics for those who want an accessible introduction to a diverse region. - Nancy Bermeo, University of Oxford, UK
In many books on European politics the subject are countries, i.e. politics in a more or less large number of European countries. With a rare combination of encyclopedic knowledge and analytical skills, this very much welcome book takes Europe back where the action is. The pan-European approach, as José M. Magone labels its comprehensive and careful view of European politics since the fall of the Berlin Wall, provides a really comparative basis for understanding the most recent dynamics of Europe at different levels. The result has crystallized in a book which is an invaluable addition to the literature. - José Ramón Montero, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
Contents
1. Introduction to Contemporary European Politics 2. The Historical Development of European Politics 3. The Transformation of European Politics 4. National Politics and the European Union 5. Government in Europe 6. The Diversity of Parliamentarianism in Europe 7. Towards the European Public Administrative Space: The Europeanization of National Governance 8. Judicial Power in Multi-level Europe 9. Regional and Local Government in Multi-Level Europe 10. Political Parties 11. Electoral Systems and Party Systems 12. Interest Groups, Systems of Interest Intermediation and Civil Society 13. Convergence of National Policy Styles: The Role of the European Union 14. The Intertwinedness of National and European Foreign Policy 15. Conclusions: Reinventing Europe
Author Bio
José M. Magone is Professor in Regional and Global Governance at the Berlin School of Economics. He was previously Reader in European Politics at the University of Hull. Among his publications are Politics of Southern Europe (2003), The Developing Place of Portugal in the European Union (2004), The New World Architecture (2006) and Contemporary Spanish Politics (Second Edition, 2009)
Related Subjects
Name: Contemporary European Politics: A Comparative Introduction (Paperback) – Routledge
Description: By José Magone. In this important new introductory textbook, José Magone provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to contemporary European politics.
The unification of the European continent since the Fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and the...
Categories: European Politics, European Union Policy, Foreign Policy
