European Politics Today: Second Edition (Politics Today)

In This New Edition, Patricia Hogwood And Geoffrey Roberts Offer A Comprehensive Introduction To The Political Systems And Processes Of Western Europe. The Book Begins With An Overview Of The Features And Events That Have Shaped The Political Landscape Of Europe Up To The End Of The 20th Century. The Authors Go On To Discuss Liberal Democracy, Historical Sources Of Conflict Between Countries, Electoral Systems, Political Parties And Interest Groups, Governments And Parliaments. The Final Section Looks At Federalism And Eu Decision-making And Concludes With A Consideration Of How Liberal Democracies In Western Europe Have Attempted To Provide Stable Government While Remaining Responsive To Changes In Society. This Book Has Been Fully Updated To Take Account Of The French, British And Italian General Elections That Have Occurred In Recent Years, As Well As The Momentous Changes That Have Taken Place In Global Politics As A Result 9/11, And The Preparations For Eu Enlargement. The Chapters On The European Union And Democracy In Western Europe Have Also Been Substantially Revised To Take Account Of Globalization And Recent Political Corruption Issues. Politics In Western Europe : Contexts And Patterns / Geoffrey Roberts -- The Democratic Political Process / Geoffrey Roberts -- Sources Of Political Conflict / Patricia Hogwood -- Electoral Systems / Geoffrey Roberts -- Linkage Organisations : Political Parties / Geoffrey Roberts -- Linkage Organisations : Interest Groups / Geoffrey Roberts -- Executive Government / Patricia Hogwood -- Constitutionalism, Judicial Review And Civil Rights / Patricia Hogwood -- Federalism, Devolution And Local Government / Geoffrey Roberts -- The European Union And The Member States / Patricia Hogwood -- Democracy In Western Europe : Stability And Political Change / Patricia Hogwood. Patricia Hogwood And Geoffrey K. Roberts. Authors' Names In Previous Ed. In Reverse Order. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In the new edition of this successful textbook on European politics, Patricia Hogwood and Geoffrey Roberts offer a comprehensive introduction to the political systems and processes of western Europe. They demonstrate clearly that political decisions are not made in a vacuum, but in the context of specific historical constraints and social demands. The book begins with an overview of the features and events which have shaped the political landscape of Europe up to the end of the twentieth century. The authors go on to discuss liberal democracy, historical sources of conflict between countries, electoral systems, political parties and interest groups, governments and parliaments. The final section looks at fedaralism and EU decision-making and concludes with a consideration of how liberal democracies in western Europe have attempted to provide stable government while remaining responsive to changes in society. This book has been fully updated to take account of the French, British and Italian general elections that have occurred in recent years, as well as the momentous changes that have taken place in global politics as a result of the September 11 terrorist attack, and the preparations for EU enlargement. The chapters on the European Union and democracy in western Europe have also been substantially revised to take account of globalisation and recent political corruption issues Contents......Page 6 List of tables and figures......Page 7 Preface......Page 10 1 Politics in western Europe: contexts and patterns......Page 14 2 The democratic political process......Page 32 3 Sources of political conflict......Page 51 4 Electoral systems......Page 75 5 Linkage organisations: political parties......Page 98 6 Linkage organisations: interest groups......Page 119 7 Executive government......Page 138 8 Accountable government: parliaments......Page 163 9 Constitutionalism, judicial review and civil rights......Page 187 10 Federalism, devolution and local government......Page 211 11 The European Union and the member states......Page 228 12 Democracy in western Europe: stability and political change......Page 257 Glossary and abbreviations......Page 283 Further reading......Page 288 Index......Page 291 Provides a comprehensive introduction to the political system and processes of western Europe. Demonstrates clearly that political decisions are made in the context of specific historical developments, geographical constraints and social demands. Fully updated to take account of the recent French, British and Italian general elections as well as the momentous changes that have taken place in global politics as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and the preparations for EU enlargement. Chapters on the European Union and democracy in western Europe have been substantially revised to take account of globalisation and recent political corruption issues. In this new textbook Geoffrey Roberts and Patricia Hogwood provide an up-to-date introduction to the political system and processes of western Europe. They show that political decisions are not made in a vacuum, but in the context of specific historical developments, geographical constraints and social demands. This textbook is intended as an introduction to the political systems andprocesses of western Europe.