The First European Elections

"The voice of the spirit of Europe" is the European Commission's description of the Community's 434 member Parliament. Four years after the European Parliament's historic first direct election by the citizens of nine countries, that voice is barely audible and one must pause to wonder whether the spirit is equally weak. The European Parliament is potentially one of the most interesting legislative bodies in the world because of the circumstances which created it, its unique transnational composition, and the power it may some day wield. However, the gap between the real and the possible is very large indeed.

"The voice of the spirit of Europe" is the European Commission's description of the Community's 434 member Parliament. Four years after the European Parliament's historic first direct election by the citizens of nine countries, that voice is barely audible and one must pause to wonder whether the spirit is equally weak. The European Parliament is potentially one of the most interesting legislative bodies in the world because of the circumstances which created it, its unique transnational composition, and the power it may some day wield. However, the gap between the real and the possible is very large indeed.

This book analyzes how the behavior of voters, parties, and the mass media in European Parliament elections affects domestic politics and how, in turn, domestic politics affects those behaviors. The contributors discuss election turnout and party choice, the contract between the European Parliament and national elections, the importance of citizens' attitudes toward European integration, the relationship between political parties' domestic policies and their stances on European integration, and the ways in which the mass media and election campaigns affect electoral outcomes. On the basis of this information, the authors present possible scenarios for future European elections and their relationship to the domestic politics of the EU member-states. The product of superb empirical research, European Elections and Domestic Politics is based on a unique combination of data from voter surveys, party manifestos, and mass media reports across all members of the European Union. This book will be essential for anyone interested in the future of the EU. "The definitive analysis of elections to the European Parliament, by a first-rate line-up of scholars, this study provides a masterclass on understanding the way that European elections, national politics, and the process of EU integration interact in complex and unexpected ways. An invaluable study for those interested in elections and voting behavior, European democracy, comparative politics, political communications, and political parties." --Pippa Norris, Director, Democratic Governance Group, United Nations Development Program and John f. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University "This book represents the best of the intersection on EU studies and the study of comparative European politics. This sort of scholarship is the cornerstone of those interested in the domestic politics of European integration ... a work of the first order of quality." --Paul Taggart, University of Sussex "This is the most comprehensive book ever written on European Parliament elections. For the first time, the latest research on voter turnout, voting behavior, party manifestos, election outcomes, the effect of the elections on national politics, and media coverage of European Parliament elections has been brought together in a single volume." --Simon Hix, London School of Economics

The Routledge Handbook of European Elections explores the multifaceted dimension of the European Parliament’s (EP) electoral contests across the European Community and European Union since 1979. After setting a general empirical and theoretical framework, this collaborative project presents original contributions from leading experts from virtually all the corners of the European Union. Each case study adheres to a common template that makes it easy to compare data, methodology and outcomes. Every country chapter includes: a brief geopolitical profile and historical background of the Member State; a glance at the national political landscape; a short account of the main political parties, including their attitude toward the European Union; a section on public opinion and European integration; a summary of electoral systems; an overview of all EP and national elections; an in-depth analysis of the 2009 EP electoral race; an overall theoretical interpretation of European elections. A comparative chapter closes the Handbook followed by an Epilogue focussing on the 2014 EP contest with a detailed analysis of the newly elected European Assembly in terms of political group and gender compostion. The volume aims to enhance readers’ understanding of the European Parliament and revive their interest in the European integration process. By providing a wide range of national and European facts and figures, this investigation represents a comprehensive reference guide to scholars, practitioners, and students of the European Parliament, European elections, political parties, European Union and comparative politics.