The French Parliament and the European Union: Backbenchers Blues (French Politics, Society and Culture)

This book explores how the European Union has changed the French Parliament since 1992. It supports the view that the institutional adaptation of both assemblies to European affairs is largely superficial as it lacks a genuine involvement from members of parliament. Nevertheless, the role of backbenchers has changed in the context of European integration. New ways of behaving, thinking and representing have emerged. From specialized representatives to constituency members, from presidential aspirants to Eurosceptic sovereigntists, French national parliamentarians have adapted differently to the EU. Far beyond the sole scrutiny of European draft legislation, the book provides a comprehensive map of this changing environment. It supports the view that the process has been driven by the search for day-to-day emotional gratifications rather than utilitarian strategies. Olivier Rozenberg is Associate Professor at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics, Sciences Po, Paris, France. He has co-edited books on parliamentary roles and questions, national parliaments, and parliamentary studies more generally Front Matter ....Pages i-xvi Introduction (Olivier Rozenberg)....Pages 1-8 Institutional Adaptation: A Case of trompe-l’oeil? (Olivier Rozenberg)....Pages 9-57 The Enrolment of National Parliamentarians (Olivier Rozenberg)....Pages 59-99 The Constituency Member: Dilettante, Lobbyist or Mediator (Olivier Rozenberg)....Pages 101-131 The Defender of Land and Tradition: The Activism of the Righter of Wrongs (Olivier Rozenberg)....Pages 133-164 The Sovereigntist: An Ephemeral Role (Olivier Rozenberg)....Pages 165-191 The Career Politician: The Europeanisation of Political Outsiders (Olivier Rozenberg)....Pages 193-222 The European Specialist in Search of a Role (Olivier Rozenberg)....Pages 223-261 Conclusion (Olivier Rozenberg)....Pages 263-276 Back Matter ....Pages 277-286