The Politicization of Europe: Contesting the Constitution in the Mass Media

This book explores EU-constitution making in relation to the contested nature of the EU-polity and the social responsiveness of the citizens and people in Europe and demonstrates that media communication is central to comprehend the scope of legitimacy of the European Union.The authors argue that it is necessary to analyze the Europeanisation of the existing media and public spaces within the member states in order to understand how European constitutional politics are mediated and contested. The chapters are drawn from a comparative case study on ratification as a period of intense politicization on EU constitutional affairs. They examine the main political actors and institutions in their role as public mediators of EU constitutional politics and they deliver a systematic assessment of constitutional debates in quality newspapers as one of the principal arenas where the legitimacy of the EU is negotiated.This book will be of strong interest to students and scholars of comparative politics, media studies, communication, sociology and European studies.