Politics in Europe

Politics in Europe, Seventh Edition introduces students to the power of the European Union as well as seven political systems—the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Russia, Poland—within a common analytical framework that enables students to conduct both single-case and cross-national analysis. Each case addresses the most relevant questions of comparative political analysis: who governs, on behalf of what values, with the collaboration of what groups, in the face of what kind of opposition, and with what socioeconomic and political consequences? Packed with captivating photos and robust country descriptions from regional specialists, the Seventh Edition enables students to think critically about these questions and make meaningful cross-national comparisons.

Politics in Europe, Seventh Edition introduces students to the power of the European Union as well as seven political systems—the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Russia, Poland—within a common analytical framework that enables students to conduct both single-case and cross-national analysis. Each case addresses the most relevant questions of comparative political analysis: who governs, on behalf of what values, with the collaboration of what groups, in the face of what kind of opposition, and with what socioeconomic and political consequences? Packed with captivating photos and robust country descriptions from regional specialists, theSeventh Edition enables students to think critically about these questions and make meaningful cross-national comparisons.

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction
Part I: United Kingdom, Christopher J. Carman
1.1 The Context of British Politics
British Diversity
A United Kingdom of Four Countries
Stability and Change
Traditional and Modern: The Political Culture of the United Kingdom
Class Politics, but . . .
Conservatively Liberal Policy Ideas
Isolated but European
1.2 Where Is the Power?
British Parliamentary Government
The Monarch
The Prime Minister
The Cabinet and Government
Parliament
The Civil Service
The Judiciary
The Rest of Government
1.3 Who Has the Power?
Political Parties
The Party and Electoral Systems
The Two Major Parties
The Labour Party
The Conservative Party
Voting and Elections
Voter Turnout
Partisan Choice by Voters
Pressure Groups and Corporatism
Major Interest Groups
Patterns of Influence
1.4 How Is Power Used?
The Parliamentary Process and New Policies
Agenda Setting and Policy Formulation
Policy Continuation: Budgeting
Policymaking in Great Britain
1.5 What Is the Future of British Politics?
The Economy
The Public Sector
Who Rules Great Britain?
Who Rules in Government?
Continued Devolution, Breakup, or What?
Part 2: France
2.1 The Context of French Politics
Religion and Social Class
Education
Revolutions, Regime Changes, and Legitimacy Crises
Aspects of French Political Culture
2.2 Where Is the Power?
The President and the Government
The Parliament
The Administrative State
2.3 Who Has the Power?
Political Parties: Traditional “Political Families”
Elections in the Fifth Republic
The Future of Political Parties: Rivalries, Divisions, and Uncertainties
Interest Groups
2.4 How Is Power Used?
Deputies, Senators, and Decisions
Bureaucratic Politics
Delegating Responsibility for Decisions
Conflicts Within the System
2.5 What Is the Future of French Politics?
Stability, Modernization, and Democracy
Administration and Justice: Developments and Reforms
Problems and Prospects for France
The Economic Challenge: Welfare Statism and “Neoliberalism”
Foreign Policy: Europe and Beyond
Societal and Systemic Issues
Part 3: Germany
3.1 The Context of German Politics
Historical Context
Geographic and Demographic Context
Religion
Socioeconomic Structure
Education
Political Attitudes
3.2 Where Is the Power?
Policymaking Institutions
3.3 Who Has the Power?
Political Parties
Interest Groups
The German Voter, 1949–2017
Unified Germany at the Polls, 1990–2017
Voting Behavior
3.4 How Is Power Used?
Semipublic Institutions
The Social Security and Health Systems
Federal Labor Agency
How Power Was Used in the Kohl Era, 1982–1998
How Power Was Used in the Unification Process
The Use of Power by Schröder’s Red–Green Coalition, 1998–2002
How Power Was Used: The Grand Coalition, 2005–2009
Merkel’s Second Government: The CDU–FDP Coalition, 2009–2013
How Power Was Used: Merkel’s Third Term, 2013–2017
The Process of Policy Implementation
3.5 What Is the Future of German Politics?
Germany and the Euro Crisis
The Problem of Putin’s Russia
Immigration
Immigration and Asylum
Xenophobia and Right-Wing Violence
Germany’s International Role
Institutional Gridlock and the Federal System
Putting Germany Back Together Again: The Continued Challenge of Rebuilding and Integrating the East
The Economic Reconstruction of the East
Part 4: Italy
4.1 The Context of Italian Politics
Historical Context
Socioeconomic Context
Religion
Education
Political Culture
4.2 Where Is the Power?
The President: Guarantor of the Constitution and Ceremonial Chief of State
The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
The Parliament
The Bureaucracy
The Judiciary
Subnational Governments
4.3 Who Has the Power?
Political Parties
The Voters: The Electoral System and Voting Behavior
Interest Groups
4.4 How Is Power Used?
The Multilevel Governance System in Italy
Policy Formulation
Policy Implementation and the Principle of Subsidiarity
Policy Outputs
Italy’s Economic Policy, 2000–2016
4.5 What Is the Future of Italian Politics?
Elements of Strength and Seeds of Crisis in the Italian Political System
The Italian Economy: Competitiveness in an Enlarged European Market
Italy and the European Union
The Question of Institutional Reform
An Uncertain Future
Part 5: Sweden
5.1 The Context of Swedish Politics
Sweden’s Welfare State
Long-term Social Democratic Dominance
Neutrality and Internationalism
Globalization and European Integration
Contrasting Views of Swedish Achievements
Geography, Resources, and Population
Early Political Development
Democratization and Industrialization
Political Culture: Constants and Change
5.2 Where Is the Power?
The Riksdag
The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
The Monarch
Other Institutional Actors
A Consensual Democracy
5.3 Who Has the Power?
Political Parties
Profiles of the Political Parties
Sweden’s Newer Parties
Administrative Elites
Elections
Elections to the European Parliament
Governments and Oppositions
5.4 How Is Power Used?
Policy Process
Policy Outcomes
Dealignment and Erosion of the Traditional Swedish Model: A Chronology
Sweden and the European Union
Return of the Nonsocialists to Power
The 2010 and 2014 Elections: Swedish Politics Under Duress
2014 Political Crisis
Restricting Immigration
5.5 What Is the Future of Swedish Politics?
Toward a Cash-Free Society
An End to Neutrality?
A “New Nordic Model”
Part: Russia
6.1 The Context of Russian Politics
A Continent More Than a Country
A Slavic People
The Impact of Communist Rule
Political Development and Democratization
Gorbachev and Perestroika
6.2 Where Is the Power?
The Russian Presidency
Presidential Power in Postcommunist Russia
Electing the Russian President
The Premier and Government
The Duma and the Legislative Process
6.3 Who Has the Power?
Toward Competitive Politics
The Political Parties
Parties and Politics in Postcommunist Russia
6.4 How Is Power Used?
Privatizing the Economy
Foreign and Security Policy
The Commonwealth of Independent States and the East
6.5 What Is the Future of Russian Politics?
An Incomplete Democracy
Human Rights
Part 7: Poland
7.1 The Context of Polish Politics
Geographic and Historical Context
Present-Day Cleavages
Political Culture
7.2 Where Is the Power?
Politics by Trial and Error: Changing Rules With Uncertain Implications
The Institutions of Power
7.3 Who Has the Power?
Parties and the Party System
Other Political Forces at Work
7.4 How Is Power Used?
Three Criteria: Electoral Accountability, Policy Responsiveness, and Policy Effectiveness
Explaining How Power Has Been Used
7.5 What Is the Future of Polish Politics?
Part: European Union
8.1 The Context of European Union Politics
Basic Characteristics of the European Union
Origins of the European Union
From the ECSC to the EEC
British Responses and EFTA
Further Expansion of Membership
Deepening of European Integration
National Wealth
Levels of Economic Development
International Trade
The European Union as a Security Community
The European Union as a Security Community
8.2 Where Is the Power?
Objectives and Levels of EU Competence
EU Institutions
The European Council and the Council of Ministers
The European Council
Qualified Majority Voting
The European Commission
The European Parliament
The Court of Justice of the European Union
The European Central Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Other Institutions
Citizens
8.3 Who Has the Power?
National Governments as Actors
The Councils as Actors
The European Commission and “Bureaucratic Politics”
European Parliament as Legislator and Watchdog
Private Interests
Citizen Inputs
Influential Individuals
8.4 How Is Power Used?
The Budgetary Process: Precursor to Economic Power
Revenue
Recipients of EU Funds
Allocation of EU Resources: An Overview
Economic Power and Objectives
EU Cohesion
Regulatory Power and the Single Market
Schengen Agreement
Rules on Competition and State Aids
Social Policy and the Environment
The Euro Area: Achievements and Crisis
Political Power: The European Union as a Global Player
Relations With North America
The Russian Bear and Economic Sanctions
Conflict Over the Ukraine
East European Partnerships
Relations With China
European Neighborhood Policies—Iraq, Iran, and Israel
Common Foreign and Security Policy
Citizenship, Freedom, Security, and Justice
Antiterrorism Policy
Immigration Crisis
Conflict With Turkey
EU Policy Assessment
8.5 What Is the Future of EU Politics?
Managing Economic Harmonization
Pending Enlargement of the European Union
The Russian Dilemma
Challenges to an “Ever-Closer Union”
The EU’s Own Vision of Its Future
Appendix