Party Politics of Immigration and the Eu

"Why are the EU and immigration such complicated questions for political parties to compete on? And what challenges do they present to parties' electoral strategies? By systematically comparing the political mainstream in four West European countries -Belgium, Britain, the Netherlands and Sweden - this study explores the changing nature of party competition on two highly salient issues in contemporary politics. Based on a new way of coding party manifestos, and a large set of interview data, the author argues that the ideological ambiguity presented by the two issues can crystalize pre-existing tensions within parties. Furthermore, this study argues that an inability to negotiate these tensions explains why some parties are more likely than others to emphasise their successful track record of delivery and competent handling of EU and immigration matters, than they are to offer the electorate a choice between different societal outcomes"--

List of contents

1. The Changing Nature of Party Competition 2. Competing in Multi-Dimensional Party Spaces 3. (Almost) Contesting the EU and Immigration (1945-1990) 4. 'Pulled' or 'Pushed'? Increased Ideological Uncertainty on the EU and Immigration 'issues' 5. The Changing Modes of Party Competition (1991 - 2010) 6. The Death of Ideology, or Ways of Dealing with an Increased State of Flux?

About the author

Pontus Odmalm is Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Edinburgh, UK.

Report

"In this insightful contribution, Pontus Odmalm examines the crucial questions around the transformation of political parties over Europe and immigration. Highly topical and at the cutting edge of political science debates, this book benefits from a cross-national comparative design and starts to offer answers on why and how party competition is changing in western Europe today". Paul Statham, Sussex Centre for Migration Research, University of Sussex, UK

Product details

• Authors: P Odmalm, P. Odmalm, Pontus Odmalm
• Publisher: Macmillan
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 17.09.2014
• EAN: 9780230367746
• ISBN: 978-0-230-36774-6
• No. of pages: 192
• Series: Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics; Palgrave Studies in European U; Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics; Palgrave Studies in European U
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political system; Migration, B, Welfare State, European Politics, Political Science, Political Theory, Welfare, European Union, Politics & government, Political science & theory, Migration, immigration & emigration, EU (European Union), Central / national / federal government policies, Emigration and immigration, European Union Politics, Palgrave Political Science Collection, elections, Electoral Politics, Politics of the Welfare State, Human Migration