West European Politics in the Age of Globalization
West European Politics in the Age of Globalization
Edgar Grande, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munchen
Romain Lachat, New York University
Martin Dolezal, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munchen
Simon Bornschier, Universität Zürich
Timotheos Frey, Universität Zürich
Over the past three decades the effects of globalization and denationalization have created a division between 'winners' and 'losers' in Western Europe. This study examines the transformation of party political systems in six countries (Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK) using opinion surveys, as well as newly collected data on election campaigns. The authors argue that, as a result of structural transformations and the strategic repositioning of political parties, Europe has observed the emergence of a tripolar configuration of political power, comprising the left, the moderate right, and the new populist right. They suggest that, through an emphasis on cultural issues such as mass immigration and resistance to European integration, the traditional focus of political debate - the economy - has been downplayed or reinterpreted in terms of this new political cleavage. This new analysis of Western European politics will interest all students of European politics and political sociology.
- Uses original data to take a fresh look at national elections, showing a new political landscape in Europe
- Features six country studies: Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK
- Easily comparable graphs provide non-technical access to complex results
Reviews & endorsements
“This book provides the best analysis I have seen of the political repercussions of globalization for voters, for political parties, and for the structure of political competition. The authors explain why different countries experience globalization in different ways, and they underpin their conclusions with an impressive diversity of data. A tour de force that will shape the study of European politics for years to come.”
Gary Marks, Burton Craige Professor, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Chair in Multilevel Governance, Free University of Amsterdam
Product details
September 2008Adobe eBook Reader
9780511426988
0 pages
0kg
68 tables
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- Part I. Theory and Methods:
- 1. Globalization and its impact on national spaces of competition
- 2. Contexts of party mobilization
- 3. The design of the study: the distinguishing characteristics of our approach
- Part II. Country Studies:
- 4. France: the model case of party system transformation
- 5. Austria: transformation driven by an established party
- 6. Switzerland: another case of transformation driven by an established party
- 7. The Netherlands: a challenge that was slow in coming
- 8. The United Kingdom: moving parties in a stable configuration
- 9. Germany: the dog that didn't bark
- Part III. Comparative Analyses:
- 10. Demand side: dealignment and realignment of the structural political potentials
- 11. Supply side: the positioning of the political parties in a restructuring space
- 12. The electoral consequences of the integration-demarcation cleavage
- 13. Globalizing West European politics: the change of cleavage structures, parties and party systems in comparative perspective
- Appendix A. Technical appendix
- Appendix B. Detailed statistical results.
