The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) : politics, parties and policies

This study argues that the political activities of the ECR ought to be recognised as the main voice for conservatism in Strasbourg promoting 'Anglosphere' free market values and the role of NATO in international relations. "This book explores the role of the European Left Party (EL) within European politics and more specifically its role within the politics of the European radical left. It offers the first analytical study of the EL to date, making a unique contribution to our understanding of European politics, Euroscepticism and radical left parties. The book compares the EL to other transnational party federations (TNPs), particularly those of the broad centre-left, the Party of European Socialists (PES) and the European Green Party (EGP). It focusses on the degree to which the EL has fostered a consensus over the EU previously conspicuously lacking among the radical left and the degree to which the EL has enabled an increase in the electoral or policy influence of the radical left in Europe. It highlights how the EL is a paradoxical actor; on one hand it has brought radical left transnational co-operation to historical highs; on the other it is both less influential than the PES and less transnational and consolidated than the EGP. Such paradoxes result from persistent internal divisions, as well as sub-optimal internal structures. The influence of the EL is also paradoxical. It has emerged as a centre of attraction for the European radical left, but is a long way from being hegemonic or unchallenged on the left. Written by two of the foremost experts on the European left, it will be of interest to students and scholars interested in European politics, to political activists, and to the general reader interested in how the left has fared in post-crisis Europe." -- Back cover This is the first study of the political activities of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), now the third largest group in the European Parliament. ECR has so far been largely dismissed as merely another Euro-sceptic faction by political scientists and Brussels policy-makers - yet this book argues that ECR ought instead to be recognised as the main voice for Conservatism in Strasbourg promoting 'Anglosphere' free market values and the role of NATO in international relations. Drawing on interviews with MEPs, this book is the first major in-depth analysis of ECR and its 'Euro-realist' agenda, covering its origins and development in the British Conservatives through to the role of member parties such as Law and Justice (PiS) from Poland. This book will be of interest to anyone with an interest in Conservative politics and the work of the European Parliament "The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) are now established as one of the larger groups in the European Parliament and from 2014 to 2019 had more MEPs than the Liberals, Greens or radical left and right-wing factions. Despite this, ECR has so far been largely dismissed by political scientists, journalists and Brussels policy-makers as merely another Euro-sceptic faction. Representing the first major study of the political activities of ECR and its 'Euro-realist' agenda, this book argues that ECR ought to be recognised as the main voice for Conservatism in Strasbourg, promoting 'Anglosphere' free market values and the role of NATO in international relations"-- Front matter Dedication Contents List of figures List of tables Acknowledgements List of abbreviations The European Conservatives and Reformists parliamentary group The British Conservative Party and the development of ECR Euro-realism: the new conservative politics of ECR Member parties of the European Conservatives and Reformists ECR politicians and leadership structures ECR policy activities in the European Parliament Conclusions: conservatives and European reform Bibliography Index