Social Movement Campaigns on EU Policy: In the Corridors and in the Streets (Palgrave Studies in European Political Sociology)

This book assesses how much influence social movements have on EU policy and the means through which influence is secured. Using wide-ranging case studies of campaigns from GMOs to water rights and Internet freedom, it elucidates the important differences between technical and political campaigns. This Book Investigates If And How Social Movement Campaigns Influence European Policy, A Particularly Pertinent Question In Today's Political Climate Of Disillusionment With Europe In Many Member States. Using A Range Of Campaigns Launched By Social Movement Organisations, From Genetically Modified Organisms And Internet Freedom To Trade Union Rights And Water Rights, Parks Elucidates The Important Differences Between Technical And Political Campaigns. Technical Campaigns Are Characterised By Extended Engagement With Consultation Mechanisms And The Production Of Expert Information, Particularly For The European Commission. In Political Campaigns, Social Movement Organisations Target The Eu At National And Local Levels, Using Strategies Reminiscent Of Social Movements As They Are More Commonly Known. A Comparison Of The Campaigns Suggests That Targeting Member State Governments With Protest And Harnessing Public Opinion Is Central To Securing Influence Over Eu Policy, And That Where National And Local Levels Are Made Integral To Efforts In Shaping European Policy, Influence Is More Likely.--publisher's Website. Introduction -- Untangling Influence: Studying Social Movement Campaigns In The Transnational Eu Arena -- Political Process And Framing In The Technical Campaigns -- The Outcomes Of Technical Campaigns In The Eu -- Political Process And Framing In The Political Campaigns -- The Outcomes Of Political Campaigns In The Eu -- Conclusions: Technical And Political Campaigning In The Eu. Louisa Parks. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction....Pages 1-12 Untangling Influence: Studying Social Movement Campaigns in the Transnational EU Arena....Pages 13-35 Political Process and Framing in the Technical Campaigns....Pages 36-80 The Outcomes of Technical Campaigns in the EU....Pages 81-102 Political Process and Framing in the Political Campaigns....Pages 103-142 The Outcomes of Political Campaigns in the EU....Pages 143-162 Conclusions: Technical and Political Campaigning in the EU....Pages 163-183 Back Matter....Pages 184-210