European Politics Today

by Almond, Gabriel A.; Dalton, Russell J.; Powell, G. Bingham; Strom, Kaare

• ISBN13: 9780321086129
• ISBN10: 0321086120
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

This is the first truly pan-European survey of contemporary European politics, that includes nations from both Western and Eastern Europe as well as a separate chapter on the European Union. Written by foremost scholars in the field, the book examines questions about the foundations and processes of democratic government, and then compares the experiences of seven nations in Western and Eastern Europe. This framework provides a basis for comparing political values, institutions and processes across Europe.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
PART I Introduction
The European Context	1	(27)
The Purpose and Organization of This Book	2	(1)
The Emergence of Today's Europe	3	(4)
European Integration	7	(1)
Describing Europe: Large and Small Countries	7	(2)
Describing Europe: Rich and Poor Countries	9	(2)
Democratic Policies and Welfare in Europe	11	(3)
Development, Modernization, and Democracy	14	(3)
Ethnic and Religious Conflict in Europe	17	(6)
Democracy and Democratization	23	(5)
Democratic Political Culture and Political Action	28	(25)
The Cultural Foundations of Democracy	29	(3)
The Levels of a Political Cutlure	32	(10)
Particpation and Democracy	42	(5)
The Role of Interest Groups	47	(2)
The Public and Democracy	49	(4)
Democratic Government in Europe	53	(32)
Constitutional Organization: Rules for Making Rules	54	(6)
Constitutional Organization: Electoral Rules	60	(2)
Parties and Party Competition	62	(8)
Government Formation and Policymaking	70	(6)
Introducing and Sustaining Democracy	76	(9)
PART II The Established Democracies
Politics in England	85	(54)
Current Policy Challenges	86	(1)
The Constraints of History	87	(3)
The Environment of Politics	90	(5)
The Structure of Government	95	(11)
Political Culture and Legitimacy	106	(4)
Political Socialization	110	(3)
Political Participation and Recruitment	113	(3)
Organizing Group Interests	116	(4)
Party System and Electoral Choice	120	(5)
Making and Delivering Government Policies	125	(8)
Policy Outcomes and Changes in Society	133	(6)
Politics in France	139	(58)
Current Policy Challenges	140	(1)
A Historical Perspective	140	(1)
Economy and Society	141	(2)
Constitution and Governmental Structure	143	(3)
Political Culture	146	(5)
Political Socialization	151	(4)
Mass and Elite Recruitment	155	(7)
Interest Groups	162	(5)
Political Parties	167	(10)
Policy Processes	177	(7)
The State and Territorial Relations	184	(3)
Performance and Prospects	187	(10)
Politics in Germany	197	(56)
Current Policy Challenges	198	(1)
The Historical Legacy	199	(2)
Following Two Paths	201	(4)
Social Forces	205	(3)
The Institutions and Structure of Government	208	(4)
Remaking Political Cultures	212	(5)
Political Learning and Political Communication	217	(3)
Citizen Participation	220	(3)
Politics at the Elite Level	223	(1)
Interest Groups	224	(3)
The Party System	227	(6)
The Electoral System	233	(3)
The Policy Process	236	(4)
Policy Performance	240	(5)
The Policy Challenges of Unification	245	(3)
After the Revolution	248	(5)
PART III Democratic Transitions
Politics in Spain	253	(54)
Policy Challenges	253	(1)
The Historical Legacy	254	(2)
Democracy and Spain's Historical Cleavages	256	(1)
Resolving the Center-Periphery Cleavage	257	(2)
Structure and Process of the Political System	259	(10)
Political Culture and Political Socialization	269	(4)
Interest Groups	273	(5)
Electoral Competition in Spain	278	(13)
Policy Performance and Outcomes	291	(10)
The Peaceful Disappearance of the Two Spains	301	(6)
Politics in Russia	307	(50)
Rebuilding Russia	307	(1)
Changing Political Institutions	308	(12)
Russian Political Culture in the Post-Soviet Period	320	(2)
Political Participation and Social Capital	322	(3)
Interest Articulation: From Statism to Pluralism	325	(13)
The Politics of Economic Reform	338	(5)
Rule Adjudication: Toward a Constitutional Order	343	(4)
Is Russia a Democracy?	347	(1)
Chronology of Major Political Events: Russia, 1989-2000	348	(9)
Politics in Poland	357	(52)
Current Policy Challenges	358	(1)
The Making of Modern Poland	358	(10)
Structure of the Political System	368	(6)
Political Culture	374	(4)
Political Socialization	378	(3)
Political Participation	381	(1)
Leadership Recruitment	382	(2)
Interest Groups	384	(5)
Political Parties	389	(8)
The Policymaking Process	397	(2)
Policy Outcomes	399	(5)
Conclusion	404	(5)
Politics in Hungary	409	(46)
Current Policy Challenges	410	(1)
Historical Development and Political Experience in Hungary	411	(7)
Social Forces in Transition	418	(3)
The New Democratic Structures	421	(6)
A Democratic Political Culture in the Making?	427	(6)
Elite Level Politics	433	(1)
Interest Groups in Transition	434	(3)
New Politics Groups	437	(1)
Democratic Elections and the Emerging Party System	438	(10)
Policy Process and Performance	448	(2)
A Decade After the Revolution	450	(5)
PART IV The International Dimension
Politics in the European Union	455	(48)
Why ``Europe''?	456	(1)
Historical Origins	457	(12)
The Institutions	469	(8)
National Governments as Actors	477	(1)
Political Parties	477	(4)
Interest Groups	481	(1)
Public Opinion-Does It Matter?	482	(3)
The Policymaking Process	485	(6)
External Relations	491	(1)
Entanglement of the ``National'' and the ``European''	491	(1)
Policy Performance	492	(3)
Policy Challenges	495	(8)
Appendix: A Guide to Comparing Nations	503	(2)
Index	505