Europeanization and Multilevel Governance: Cohesion Policy in the European Union and Britain (Governance in Europe Series)

Europeanization has become a major theme within European studies in recent years, emphasizing the domestic effects of the EU on its member and applicant states. At the same time, multi-level governance has emerged as an important concept, highlighting shifts both in horizontal relations between state and society and in vertical links between actors at different territorial levels. In this state-of-the-art study, Ian Bache traces the relationship between these two key elements, considering the extent to which Europeanization advances multi-level governance within member states through the requirements of EU cohesion policy. Bache focuses especially on Britain, a member state whose political system has been increasingly characterized by multilevel governance since it became an EU member. Comparing Britain's case to that of ten other member states, the author distinguishes between the EU's effects in simple polities_in which voice, influence, and power are diffused through multiple levels and modes of governance_and in compound polities, where voice, influence, and power are more concentrated. Bringing together the conceptual tools of multilevel governance and policy networks and developing a framework for using these tools together in future research, this clearly written study will be valuable for scholars and students of EU and British politics. This state-of-the-art study traces the relationship between Europeanization and multilevel governance, two key concepts that have become increasingly important in recent years. Through the lens of cohesion policy, Ian Bache illustrates how the EU has affected the vertical and horizontal dimensions of domestic policymaking. The author focuses especially on Britain, comparing its experiences to that of ten other member states. Bringing together the conceptual tools of multilevel governance and policy networks and developing a framework for using these tools together in future research, this concise and clearly written study will be valuable for scholars and students of EU and British politics "This study traces the relationship between Europeanization and multilevel governance, two key concepts that have become increasingly important in recent years. Through the lens of cohesion policy, Ian Bache illustrates how the EU has affected the vertical and horizontal dimensions of domestic policy making. The author focuses especially on Britain, comparing its experiences to that of ten other member states. Bringing together the conceptual tools of multilevel governance and policy networks and developing a framework for using these tools together in future research, this study will be valuable for scholars and students of EU and British politics."--Jacket Introduction Europeanization : a framework for analysis Multilevel governance and policy networks EU cohesion policy EU cohesion policy and domestic governance The changing nature of British governance Cohesion policy and governance in Britain : 1989-1997 Cohesion policy and governance in Britain : 1997-2006 Conclusion Traces the relationship between Europeanization and multi-level governance. This study illustrates how the EU has affected the vertical and horizontal dimensions of domestic policymaking. It focuses especially on Britain, comparing its experiences to that of ten other member states.