Political Parties and Euroscepticism

What drives party-based euroscepticism and why are some small parties eurosceptic, even if they are not located in the margins, whilst other marginal parties are not? What makes mainstream opposition parties careful not to appear eurosceptic? Is Euroscepticism an aberration of politics, an extreme populist ideology, or just politics as usual? These are some of the topics explored in Political Parties and Euroscepticism. Drawing on a variety of historical accounts, comparative case studies and textual analysis of over 150 party manifestos, this book examines party-based euroscepticism as an electoral strategy and offers a dynamic theoretical model for analysis. It uses case studies from three West European countries to examine the role of domestic electoral systems and party location as explanatory variables in the theoretical model. Euroscepticism offers a lifeline to some parties, whilst it sucks the oxygen from others. It is a strategy that pays off only under certain conditions. This book investigates the conditions under which it works and those under which it doesn't. '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)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