Regionalist Parties in Western Europe : Dimensions of Success

"Regionalist parties matter. Over the past 40 years, they have played an ever-larger role in West European democracies. Because of their relevance and temporal persistence, their achievements have increasingly become visible not only in electoral arena, but also as regards holding office and policy-making. Enhancing our understanding of these different dimensions of success, this book analyses various types of regionalist party success. Beyond conventional perspectives, the focus of this book is also on how the dimensions of success are related to each other, and in particular to what extent electoral and office success -- jointly or alternatively -- contribute to policy success. Adopting a common theoretical framework and combining the in-depth knowledge of country experts, each chapter explores the evolution and impact of regionalist parties in regional or federal states, that is the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Switzerland. This allows for a comprehensive and comparative analysis of one of the main political challenges within West-European democracies"--Provided by publisher Regionalist parties matter. Over the past 40 years, they have played an ever-larger role in West European democracies. Because of their relevance and temporal persistence, their achievements have increasingly become visible not only in electoral arena, but also as regards holding office and policy-making. Enhancing our understanding of these different dimensions of success, this book analyses various types of regionalist party success. Beyond conventional perspectives, the focus of this book is also on how the dimensions of success are related to each other, and in particular to what extent electoral and office success - jointly or alternatively - contribute to policy success. Adopting a common theoretical framework and combining the in-depth knowledge of country experts, each chapter explores the evolution and impact of regionalist parties in regional or federal states, that is the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Switzerland. This allows for a comprehensive and comparative analysis of one of the main political challenges within West-European democracies.-- Provided by Publisher Table of ContentsIntroduction: Explaining the policy success of regionalist parties in Western EuropeOscar Mazzoleni & Sean MuellerChapter 2: The Scottish National Party: Nationalism for the ManyLynn BennieChapter 3: The Christlich-Soziale Union: More Than Only One Double RoleClaudius WagemannChapter 4: Moderate Regionalist Parties in Spain: Convergencia i Unio and Partido Nacionalista VascoOscar Barbera & Astrid BarrioChapter 5: Regionalist Parties in Belgium (N-VA, FDF): A Renewed Success?Emilie van HauteChapter 6: The Sudtiroler Volkspartei: Success through conflict, failure through consensusGunther PallaverChapter 7: The Northern LeagueRoberto BiorcioChapter 8: A Regionalist League in Southern SwitzerlandOscar Mazzoleni Chapter 9: ConclusionOscar Mazzoleni, Sean Mueller and Emilie van Haute 1. Introduction : explaining the policy success of regionalist parties in Western Europe / Oscar Mazzoleni and Sean Mueller -- 2. The Scottish national party : nationalism for the many / Lynn Bennie -- 3. The Christlich-Soziale Union : more than one double role / Claudius Wagemann -- 4. Modiferate regionalist parties in Spain : Convergencia i Unio and Partido Nacionalista Vasco / Oscar Barbera and Astrid Barrio -- 5. Regionalist parties in Belgium (N-VA, FDF) : a renewed success? / Emilie van Haute -- 6. The Sudtiroler Volkspartei : Success through conflict, failure through consensus / Gunther Pallaver -- 7. The norther league / Roberto Biorcio -- 8. A regionalist league in Southern Switzerland / Oscar Mazzoleni -- 9. Conclusion / Oscar Mazzoleni, Sean Mueller and Emilie van Haute Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 List of tables 8 List of figures 10 About the authors 11 1 Introduction: Explaining the policy success of regionalist parties in Western Europe 14 2 The Scottish National Party: Nationalism for the many 35 3 The Christlich-Soziale Union : More than one double role 55 4 Moderate regionalist parties in Spain: Convergència i Unió and Partido Nacionalista Vasco 74 5 Regionalist parties in Belgium (N- VA, FDF): A renewed success? 99 6 The Südtiroler Volkspartei: Success through conflict, failure through consensus 120 7 The Northern League 148 8 A regionalist league in Southern Switzerland 165 9 Conclusion 182 Index 202