Preface
Aknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction
Part I: United Kingdom, Christopher J. Carman
1.1 The Context of British Politics
A United Kingdom of Four Countries
Traditional and Modern: The Political Culture of the United Kingdom
Class Politics, but . . .
Conservatively Liberal Policy Ideas
1.2 Where Is the Power?
British Parliamentary Government
The Cabinet and Government
1.3 Who Has the Power?
The Party and Electoral Systems
Partisan Choice by Voters
Pressure Groups and Corporatism
1.4 How Is Power Used?
The Parliamentary Process and New Policies
Agenda Setting and Policy Formulation
Policy Continuation: Budgeting
Policymaking in Great Britain
1.5 What Is the Future of British Politics?
Continued Devolution, Breakup, or What?
Part 2: France
2.1 The Context of French Politics
Religion and Social Class
Revolutions, Regime Changes, and Legitimacy Crises
Aspects of French Political Culture
2.2 Where Is the Power?
The President and the Government
2.3 Who Has the Power?
Political Parties: Traditional “Political Families”
Elections in the Fifth Republic
The Future of Political Parties: Rivalries, Divisions, and Uncertainties
Deputies, Senators, and Decisions
Delegating Responsibility for Decisions
Conflicts Within the System
2.5 What Is the Future of French Politics?
Stability, Modernization, and Democracy
Administration and Justice: Developments and Reforms
Problems and Prospects for France
The Economic Challenge: Welfare Statism and “Neoliberalism”
Foreign Policy: Europe and Beyond
Societal and Systemic Issues
Part 3: Germany
3.1 The Context of German Politics
Geographic and Demographic Context
3.2 Where Is the Power?
Policymaking Institutions
3.3 Who Has the Power?
The German Voter, 1949–2017
Unified Germany at the Polls, 1990–2017
3.4 How Is Power Used?
The Social Security and Health Systems
How Power Was Used in the Kohl Era, 1982–1998
How Power Was Used in the Unification Process
The Use of Power by Schröder’s Red–Green Coalition, 1998–2002
How Power Was Used: The Grand Coalition, 2005–2009
Merkel’s Second Government: The CDU–FDP Coalition, 2009–2013
How Power Was Used: Merkel’s Third Term, 2013–2017
The Process of Policy Implementation
3.5 What Is the Future of German Politics?
Germany and the Euro Crisis
The Problem of Putin’s Russia
Xenophobia and Right-Wing Violence
Germany’s International Role
Institutional Gridlock and the Federal System
Putting Germany Back Together Again: The Continued Challenge of Rebuilding and Integrating the East
The Economic Reconstruction of the East
Part 4: Italy
4.1 The Context of Italian Politics
4.2 Where Is the Power?
The President: Guarantor of the Constitution and Ceremonial Chief of State
The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
4.3 Who Has the Power?
The Voters: The Electoral System and Voting Behavior
4.4 How Is Power Used?
The Multilevel Governance System in Italy
Policy Implementation and the Principle of Subsidiarity
Italy’s Economic Policy, 2000–2016
4.5 What Is the Future of Italian Politics?
Elements of Strength and Seeds of Crisis in the Italian Political System
The Italian Economy: Competitiveness in an Enlarged European Market
Italy and the European Union
The Question of Institutional Reform
Part 5: Sweden
5.1 The Context of Swedish Politics
Long-term Social Democratic Dominance
Neutrality and Internationalism
Globalization and European Integration
Contrasting Views of Swedish Achievements
Geography, Resources, and Population
Early Political Development
Democratization and Industrialization
Political Culture: Constants and Change
5.2 Where Is the Power?
The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
Other Institutional Actors
5.3 Who Has the Power?
Profiles of the Political Parties
Elections to the European Parliament
Governments and Oppositions
5.4 How Is Power Used?
Dealignment and Erosion of the Traditional Swedish Model: A Chronology
Sweden and the European Union
Return of the Nonsocialists to Power
The 2010 and 2014 Elections: Swedish Politics Under Duress
5.5 What Is the Future of Swedish Politics?
Toward a Cash-Free Society
Part: Russia
6.1 The Context of Russian Politics
A Continent More Than a Country
The Impact of Communist Rule
Political Development and Democratization
Gorbachev and Perestroika
6.2 Where Is the Power?
Presidential Power in Postcommunist Russia
Electing the Russian President
The Premier and Government
The Duma and the Legislative Process
6.3 Who Has the Power?
Toward Competitive Politics
Parties and Politics in Postcommunist Russia
6.4 How Is Power Used?
Foreign and Security Policy
The Commonwealth of Independent States and the East
6.5 What Is the Future of Russian Politics?
Part 7: Poland
7.1 The Context of Polish Politics
Geographic and Historical Context
7.2 Where Is the Power?
Politics by Trial and Error: Changing Rules With Uncertain Implications
The Institutions of Power
7.3 Who Has the Power?
Parties and the Party System
Other Political Forces at Work
7.4 How Is Power Used?
Three Criteria: Electoral Accountability, Policy Responsiveness, and Policy Effectiveness
Explaining How Power Has Been Used
7.5 What Is the Future of Polish Politics?
Part: European Union
8.1 The Context of European Union Politics
Basic Characteristics of the European Union
Origins of the European Union
British Responses and EFTA
Further Expansion of Membership
Deepening of European Integration
Levels of Economic Development
The European Union as a Security Community
The European Union as a Security Community
8.2 Where Is the Power?
Objectives and Levels of EU Competence
The European Council and the Council of Ministers
Qualified Majority Voting
The Court of Justice of the European Union
The European Central Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
8.3 Who Has the Power?
National Governments as Actors
The European Commission and “Bureaucratic Politics”
European Parliament as Legislator and Watchdog
8.4 How Is Power Used?
The Budgetary Process: Precursor to Economic Power
Allocation of EU Resources: An Overview
Economic Power and Objectives
Regulatory Power and the Single Market
Rules on Competition and State Aids
Social Policy and the Environment
The Euro Area: Achievements and Crisis
Political Power: The European Union as a Global Player
Relations With North America
The Russian Bear and Economic Sanctions
Conflict Over the Ukraine
East European Partnerships
European Neighborhood Policies—Iraq, Iran, and Israel
Common Foreign and Security Policy
Citizenship, Freedom, Security, and Justice
8.5 What Is the Future of EU Politics?
Managing Economic Harmonization
Pending Enlargement of the European Union
Challenges to an “Ever-Closer Union”
The EU’s Own Vision of Its Future
Appendix
