Centre-Left Parties and the European Union: Power, Accountability and Democracy

This book investigates how the British Labour Party, the French Socialist Party (PS), and the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) deal with the European Union (EU).

Format: Hardback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 30 January 2018
Publisher: Manchester University Press

The impact of European Union (EU) membership on power dynamics within political parties is a complex and multifaceted issue that has been the subject of much debate and analysis. In this book, we examine the effects of EU membership on the British Labour Party, the French Socialist Party (PS), and the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) using a principal-agent framework. Our goal is to investigate who within these parties determines EU policies and selects EU specialists, and to assess the extent to which European policy remains in the hands of the party leadership.

To achieve this, we conducted original interviews with EU experts from these parties, as well as an e-mail questionnaire. Our findings reveal that European policy has remained in the hands of the party leadership, with the grassroots often having limited influence over EU decisions.

While the party grassroots are interested in the EU, their interest rarely translates into influence. This is due to a variety of factors, including the political nature of the EU, the informal nature of party processes, and the undemocratic nature of some party selection processes.

One of the key findings of our study is that the selection of EU specialists is highly political, often informal, and in some cases, undemocratic. Parties use a range of methods to select these specialists, including internal elections, appointments by party leaders, and the use of external consultants. However, these processes are often subject to political manipulation and can be influenced by factors such as party loyalty, personal connections, and financial considerations.

This lack of transparency and accountability in the selection of EU specialists can have significant consequences for the democratic legitimacy of EU policy. It can lead to the exclusion of marginalized voices and the perpetuation of power imbalances within parties. Moreover, it can undermine the ability of the party grassroots to hold their leaders accountable for their actions in the EU.

To address these challenges, it is important for political parties to engage with their grassroots more effectively and to ensure that their processes for selecting EU specialists are transparent, accountable, and democratic. This may involve measures such as greater involvement of party members in decision-making processes, the establishment of independent oversight bodies, and the promotion of greater political education and engagement among party members.

In conclusion, the impact of European Union (EU) membership on power dynamics within political parties is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires careful consideration. While EU membership has brought certain benefits, such as increased economic integration and political cooperation, it has also had the unintended consequence of undermining intra-party democracy. It is essential for political parties to address these challenges and to ensure that their processes for selecting EU specialists are transparent, accountable, and democratic to promote the democratic legitimacy of EU policy and to ensure that the voices of the party grassroots are heard.

Weight: 476g
Dimension: 162 x 240 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526120335