Book Review: Europe: Small States in the European Union: Coping with Structural Disadvantages
Date | 01 May 2013 |
Published date | 01 May 2013 |
DOI | 10.1111/1478-9302.12016_113 |
Subject Matter | Book Review |
297
characteristics at the same time. Consequently, Euro-
power in the Council of Ministers. The book thus
pean elections and their campaigns do not necessarily
focuses on the role of small states in negotiations at EU
follow the same logic as national ones.
level and analyses the role of nineteen member states
The aim of this volume is to test whether theories
in working parties and COREPER (Comité des
that have been developed in the national context hold
représentants permanents) where the majority of EU
true at the European level. The individual articles are
policy decisions are made. The author argues that small
mostly
based
on
longitudinal
and
cross-national
states face a number of difficulties in order to partici-
approaches, but also include single-country studies.The
pate actively and effectively in EU negotiations, such as
data are frequently drawn from content analyses of
minimal bargaining power and lower number of per-
campaigning material, television spots and newspaper
sonnel to prepare negotiations.
articles in addition to surveys. Hence the book is aimed
Nevertheless, not all small states perform similarly in
at anyone interested in (comparative) election research
shaping strategies and influencing negotiations. In order
and political communication.
to explain these dissimilarities a mixed methodology is
Overall, the volume gives a comprehensive account of
employed that encompasses a multivariate quantitative
the 2009 European elections in terms of their historical
analysis and two qualitative case studies. The two case
development, the party and media campaign.While some
studies concern negotiations for the adoption of spirit
chapters follow the classical patterns of media analyses
drinks regulation and the regulation of pesticides. The
(topics, actors, valence,...
To continue reading
Request your trial