Description
Book SynopsisThis book discusses the domestic politics of treaty reform in the European Union, from the failed referendums on the Constitutional Treaty held in France and the Netherlands in May-June 2005 to the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon in December 2009. The chapters, written by some of the finest scholars in the field of EU/European politics, show how European integration has increasingly become a contested issue in a majority of Member States. Going beyond the view that national governments are the main, if not the sole, driving force in the process of European integration, this book shows that other actors and factors have played a central role in preference formation and inter-state bargaining. These include: political parties, public opinion, the media, presidents, constitutional courts and, more broadly, political systems, ratification hurdles and the general negotiation context.National Politics and European Integration combines empirical analysis and theoretical explanations for one of the most controversial periods in the history of the European Union. This important book will be of great interest for advanced students in EU studies, comparative politics and public policy.
Table of ContentsContents: Foreword Alberta Sbragia 1. Introduction: Understanding the Domestic Politics of Treaty Reform Maurizio Carbone 2. The EU Reform Process: From the European Constitution to the Lisbon Treaty Thomas Christiansen 3. France: From Rejection to Return? Helen Drake and Christian Lequesne 4. Germany: From Launching the Constitutional Debate to Salvaging a Treaty Simon Bulmer 5. United Kingdom: Red Lines Defended Neill Nugent and David Phinnemore 6. Italy: The Importance of Party Politics in Treaty Negotiations Lucia Quaglia 7. Poland: Domestic Discord Makes for a Problematic Partner Paul G. Lewis 8. Ireland: More Referendums Anyone? Brian Girvin 9. The Benelux Countries: How Politicization Upset a Pro-integration Coalition Peter Bursens and Ben Crum 10. Spain and Portugal: Continuity and Consensus in Iberia Mary Farrell 11. The Nordic Countries: Between Scepticism and Adaptation Finn Laursen 12. Czech Republic and Slovakia: Party Politics and the Travails of Ratification Karen Henderson 13. Conclusion: Preference Formation, Inter-state Bargaining and the Treaty of Lisbon Maurizio Carbone Index
