Foundations of European Politics A Comparative Approach

With its coherent analytical framework and accessible style, Foundations of European Politics: A Comparative Approach introduces students to important tools of social science and comparative analysis.

Key Features
- Adopts a social scientific approach, introducing students to the important theoretical and empirical tools necessary to compare and analyse democratic politics in Europe.
- Provides comprehensive coverage of political institutions, political behaviour and voters, and selected important policy outcomes.
- Breakout boxes are included in each chapter to go deeper into aspects of European politics, and how to study it. Boxes includes debates about methods and measurement of important concepts, case studies, and academic controversies and debates.

New to this Edition
- Three new chapters cover topics around how to study European politics using the scientific method, how people receive and process political information and the role social media and political elites play in informing citizens about politics, and how organizations and social movements influence policy-making in Europe.
- New and updated, full colour, graphs and figures help to clarify complex data and theoretical topics.
- Existing chapters have been restructured and expanded to provide deeper insights and more comprehensive coverage of European politics.

Digital Formats and Resources
Foundations of European Politics is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and it is supported by online resources. Additional data set exercises can be found at www.foundationsofeuropeanpolitics.com.

Catherine E. De Vries, Generali Endowed Chair in European Policies and Professor of Political Science, Bocconi University,Sara B. Hobolt, Sutherland Chair in European Institutions and Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science,Sven-Oliver Proksch, Professor of Political Science and Chair in European and Multilevel Politics, University of Cologne,Jonathan B. Slapin, Professor of Political Science and Chair in Political Institutions and European Politics, University of Zürich

Catherine E. De Vries is Generali Endowed Chair in European Policies and a Professor of Political Science at Bocconi University. She is the author of several books on European politics, including Euroscepticism and the Future of European Integration (OUP, 2018), Political Entrepreneurs (Princeton UP, 2020) and Money Flows: The Political Consequences of Migrant Remittances (OUP, 2024).

Sara B. Hobolt is the Sutherland Chair in European Institutions and professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is the author of four books on European politics, including Europe in Question (OUP, 2009), Blaming Europe? (OUP, 2014) and Political Entrepreneurs (Princeton UP, 2020).

Sven-Oliver Proksch is a Professor of Political Science and Chair in European and Multilevel Politics at the University of Cologne. His research interests include political representation, party politics, parliaments, and political text analysis. He is co-author of the book The Politics of Parliamentary Debates (CUP, 2015).

Jonathan B. Slapin is a Professor of Political Science and Chair in Political Institutions and European Politics at the University of Zürich. His current research focuses on European parliamentary and party politics, and his most recent book is Roll Call Rebels (CUP, 2019).

Part I: Theoretical and Empirical Foundations1. Introduction2. European Politics Through the Eyes of Political Scientists3. Democratic Politics4. Multilevel Politics in EuropePart II: Citizens and Voters5. Ideology and Issues6. Voting DecisionsPart III: Elections and Parties7. Electoral Systems8. Representation9. Political Parties10. Party Competition11. Political Communication and InformationPart IV: Governments and Policy12. Government Formation13. Law-Making in Governments and Parliaments14. Interest Groups and Lobbying15. Policy Outcomes in EuropePart V: Rule of Law, Democracy, and Backsliding16. Rule of Law and Judicial Politics17. European Politics into the Future