Political Parties and Euroscepticism

An exploration of what drives party-based Euroscepticism and why some parties are Eurosceptic. This book looks at what makes mainstream opposition parties careful not to appear Eurosceptic and asks whether Euroscepticism is an aberration of politics, an extreme populist ideology, or just politics as usual.

'A significant pioneering effort on euroscepticism, party leadership and the factors that condition minor parties in an electoral system reaction to and use of acceptance/ rejection of a Pan-European political and economic relationship, a dynamic deeply

responsive to the intranational positioning of the voting public. A major achievement!'

William Crotty, Thomas P. O'Neill Chair in Public Life and Professor of Political Science, Northeastern University, USA

'Political Parties and Euroscepticism by Dr Topaloff is a book long overdue. Between simple optimism and pessimism about the future of the European Union, we are often carried away by either one of them. Now, we are given a genuine opportunity to understand the intricacies of 'Euro-politics'. This is a must read for those interested in this field.'

Kosaku Dairokuno, Professor, Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan

'Once the preserve of elites, European integration is these days the stuff of mass politics. Topaloff's book offers cogent and analytically rigorous insight into the dynamics of euroscepticism as it takes deeper roots across the Old Continent. A must read for anyone interested in the EU of today.'

Dimitar Bechev, Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)

Autorentext
Liubomir K. Topaloff is Senior Assistant Professor of Politics at Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan, and Senior Lecturer at the Global Studies Program, Northeastern University, USA. He is also Associate Research Fellow with the Centre for the Study of Democracy
at Northeastern University, Boston and former head of the Bulgarian Institute of Management and Technology in Sofia, Bulgaria. Previously, he has worked as a journalist and political commentator for the Bulgarian National Radio, Nova TV, and 24-Hours Daily Newspaper.

Inhalt
An Introduction Defining Party-Based Euroscepticism: Structure, Processes, and Actors The 'Dark' Side of Democratization from Below Euroscepticism: Old Cleavages or New Strategies The Shadow of the Future The Spectre of Coalitionability Appendix Bibliography Notes