Political Parties and the European Union

Political Parties and the European Union is a panoramic survey of the political parties of contemporary Europe. There are separate chapters on the main parties of the largest EU countries, from the Gaullists in France to the Greek socialists. The political parties of Ireland and Scandinavia are discussed within general chapters on those countries while comparative chapters examine communist, green and extreme-right parties across Europe. The particular focus of the book is the way in which political parties have responded to the European Union. Some have been enthusiastic about integration and have encouraged it, others have been openly hostile and critical. Many parties have moved from opposition to support as European integration has developed. A revealing series of analyses of the activity of the parties at European level demonstrates both the complexity of the process of integration and the influential role played by the specific political circumstances faced by each party at a national level.