European Democratic Institutions and Administrations

European Democratic Institutions and Administrations
Author: Francesco Merloni
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 319
Release: 2018-09-03
Genre: Law
ISBN: 3319724932

This book presents the results of extensive international comparative research into the effects of the economic and financial crisis on democratic institutions and social cohesion policies. The collected studies describe and analyse the measures (often referred to as "reforms") adopted to counter the crisis and the effects of these measures.It investigates three areas: the impact on the functioning of institutions, with respect to the relationship between representative institutions and governments, and the organisational structure of administrations at national and local levels; the impact that the austerity policies on public spending have on social rights; and the impact on traditional instruments of public action (administrative simplification, public services delivering, the use of common assets).The general findings highlight the effect of reducing the administrative and government capacity of the democratic institutions: the public sector, rather than being innovative and made more effective, declines, offering increasingly poor public services and making bad decisions, fuelling substantive or formal privatisation solutions, which in turn cause further weakening.

Governance and Democracy

Governance and Democracy
Author: Arthur Benz
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 343
Release: 2006-04-18
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1134229771

For the first time, this new collection brings together country specialists, researchers on the European Union, and leading international relations scholars to tackle a crucial question: how compatible are today’s new patterns of ‘policy networks’ and ‘multi-level’ governance with democratic standards? This important question is attracting attention both in political science and in political practices. In political science, the question is mainly dealt with in separated sub-disciplines, which focus on different levels of politics. So far, no serious exchange has actually taken place between authors working on these different levels. The editors of this book – both specialists of network and multi-level governance – show that although the issue is raised differently in the institutional settings of the national state, the European Union, or transnational governance, excellent insights can be gained by comparison across these settings. This major new contribution includes cutting edge work from junior scholars alongside chapters by leading specialists of governance such as Guy Peters, Jon Pierre, Philippe C. Schmitter and Thomas Risse. It also contains a collection of new case studies, theoretical conceptualisations and normative proposals for solutions dealing with the issue of democratic deficits, which all give the reader a better understanding of the most crucial problems and perspectives of democracy in different patterns of "governance" beyond conventional ‘government’ approaches. This is a valuable book for policy analysts, students of the European Union and international relations, and all students in social and political science.

Europe in Search of Political Order

Europe in Search of Political Order
Author: Johan P. Olsen
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 340
Release: 2007-02
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0199214344

One of the world's most influential Political Scientists provides an innovative perspective on institutional change and reform in the EU.

Subnational Democracy in the European Union

Subnational Democracy in the European Union
Author: John Loughlin
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Total Pages: 436
Release: 2001-04-05
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0191544701

This book is the result of a research project carried out for the Committee of the Regions and analyses the 'state of play' of democratic practice at the subnational level in all of the European Member states. Its initial hypothesis was that liberal democracy is closely associated with the rise of the nation state in the 19th century. The nation state, however, has been significantly changing under the impact of various forces including globalization and regionalization, internal reforms of the public administration system such as privatization and deregulation, and the emergence of regions and local authorities as actors in their own rights. these changes pose challenges for the practice of democracy and, in particular, for its expression at the regional and local level. The book deals with the theoretical implications of these changes in terms of the changing nature of the state and new regionalism. However, one of the key findings is that there is no one uniform meaning of democracy across member states and there are variations even within a single state depending on whether the national or subnational levels are considered. Each country chapter gives the historical and philosophical background to the concept of democracy in each country. There is also an exposition of the institutional expression of democracy at the different levels. With regard to the practice of democracy at the subnational level, the role of pressure groups and policy networks is examined as well as the role of political parties. There is a survey of critiques of subnational democracy. Finally, there is a survey of innovative approaches to improving regional and local democracy through a variety of mechanisms and reforms as ways of responding to the challenge and opportunities facing it today

Reflections on the Future of Democracy in Europe

Reflections on the Future of Democracy in Europe
Author: Council of Europe. Directorate General of Political Affairs
Publisher: Council of Europe
Total Pages: 165
Release: 2005-01-01
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9287158126

This publication contains papers presented at a conference, held in November 2004 in Barcelona and organised by the Council of Europe. The purpose of the conference (held to mark the end of the three-year integrated project "Making democratic institutions work") was to discuss issues relating to the challenges and opportunities facing governments in Europe to strengthen democratic reform and encourage greater public participation. Topics covered include: promoting inclusive elections; financing of political parties; popular initiatives and referendums; and how modern communication technologies can affect the democratic process.

Political Institutions and Public Policy

Political Institutions and Public Policy
Author: B. Steunenberg
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9401586039

The discipline of public administration and public policy is experiencing a renaissance of research in which explicit attention is paid to political insti tutions. This renewed interest in institutions is not simply an extension of the 'classical' paradigm in the study of public administration, which peaked in the 1920s and 1930s, but offers a new orientation on political institutions. While 'classical' institutionalism is known for its focus on the formal stroctures of the executive branch of government, the 'new' institutionalism concentrates on the interaction between political institutions and the behavior of policy makers. This interaction, which until recently was largely neglected in public administration and public policy, forms the basic theme of this volume. To advance the study of political institutions, two rather basic problems need to be addressed: What are institutions and what are adequate ways to analyze them? We briefty discuss both questions, which determine the strocture of this book.

Political Institutions in Europe

Political Institutions in Europe
Author: Josep Colomer
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 332
Release: 2003-08-29
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1134497318

A clear, accessible introduction to the institutional regimes of 15 countries in western Europe, by an outstanding team of leading European political scientists. Each chapter is devoted either to a single country or to a small group of countries, allowing students to draw sophisticated comparisons of their political parties, electoral systems, and institutions of goverment at national, regional, and local level.

European Democratic Culture

European Democratic Culture
Author: Gerard Duprat
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 216
Release: 2005-08-18
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1134804202

These essays go beyond conventional studies of the institutions and parties of Europe to address Europe's democractic future more widely. While the book does offer an analysis of the democratic institutions of European countries, identifying common features and differences, as the editors put it, "institutions cannot function alone, like machines to produce concensus". So the book focuses on the fundamentals of European democratic culture. The authors argue that European social life and scientific learning have been indispensable components in the growth of the shared values that democracy pursues. They also analyse the dynamic tension brought to the life of democractic institutions by law, the desire for freedom, and critical public debate. With Europe engaged in perpetual self-examination, and rapid change, this book provides insights into its democractic past and prognosticates for its democratic future.

Parliamentary Administrations in the European Union

Parliamentary Administrations in the European Union
Author: Anna-Lena Högenauer
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 173
Release: 2016-04-08
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1137596260

This book offers a comprehensive overview of the role of parliamentary administrations in the control of European Union policy-making. It questions whether the decision to give parliaments greater powers in the aftermath of the Lisbon Treaty had only the intended effect of political debate on European policies, or whether it has also resulted in the bureaucratisation of parliaments. The authors argue that the challenges of information-management faced by parliaments lead them to delegate an extensive set of tasks to their administrations. They offer a broad empirical picture, analysing the challenges faced by national parliaments and the role and response of their administrations in the case of the European Parliament, national parliaments and regional parliaments. In addition, the book studies the interaction between different administrations and their contribution to interparliamentary cooperation. It presents a new and different perspective on the challenges and dynamics of multi-level parliamentarism.

Governing Europe

Governing Europe
Author: Jack Hayward
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Total Pages: 524
Release: 2003-03-20
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0191530484

Governing Europe is intended to be the leading advanced survey of politics in Western Europe. It examines in detail all aspects of political life in Western Europe, from public protest to core executives, social policy to Europe's place in the world. It brings together a world-class team of leading scholars from the United Kingdom, continental Europe and North America. The contributions provide not only a sophisticated introduction to the various issues covered, but also a detailed discussion of the major theoretical and empirical debates and developments in the field. The book therefore provides both a comprehensive overview and a series of original contributions to scholarly debate. The focus is on European core executives, public administration, parties and organised interests, democracy and popular participation, public policy and the changing European state. It wil be essential reading to scholars and students alike. The volume is intended as a tribute to the late Vincent Wright of Nuffield College, Oxford University.