The aim of the following paper is to analyse to which extent Europeanisation affects national parties at the example of the Italian “Northern League”, and to examine to which degree the impact of European integration has led to an organisational adaptation within the party. The analysis will be based on a set of hypotheses derived from recent research on the topic (cf. Carter et al. 2007, Poguntke et al. 2007).
In the first part, I will provide a theoretical background on the meaning of “Europeanisation” (chapter 2.1), on its significance for the Italian government system (chapter 2.2) and on its implication for national parties (chapter 2.3) in order to conceptualise the use of the term in the present paper. Subsequently, I will briefly describe the principal features of the party chosen for the case study with reference to its origin, development, electoral evolution, organisation and political discourse (chapter 3). In the fourth chapter, I will come to the analysis of the programmatic and organisational change of the party, examining its stance towards the European Union, the role of party leadership and EU-specialists, and the significance of collateral organisations.
In the conclusion, I will summarize the findings of the analysis to discuss the viability of the hypotheses. After all, I will try to offer an outlook concerning the principal problems encountered during the analysis and offering consequently a critical evaluation on the sense of Europeanization of national political parties as a new research agenda.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction.
1.1 Structure and aim of the paper
1.2 Hypotheses and analytical framework
2. Theoretical background.
2.1. Europeanisation: meanings and dimensions
2.2 Europeanisation and Italy.
2.3 Europeanisation and national parties
3. The Italian “Lega Nord”
3.1. Origins, development and electoral evolution
3.2. Party organisation and political discourse
4. Analysis of the case study.
4.1. Programmatic change.
4.2 Organisational change.
5.Conclusions and outlook.
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the extent to which Europeanisation impacts national political parties, using the Italian "Lega Nord" as a case study, while investigating how European integration influences organisational adaptations and party discourse.
- Analysis of Europeanisation as a process affecting national political institutions.
- Evaluation of the programmatic and organisational changes within the Lega Nord.
- Assessment of the role of party elites and EU-specialists in responding to European integration.
- Examination of the significance of collateral organisations in maintaining party support.
- Discussion of the impact of European integration on the democratic deficit and party internal power structures.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction.
Over the last decades, academic research on Europeanisation pointed predominantly to the changes occurred during the process of European integration in domestic institutions (cf. Börzel/ Risse 2003), in the public policy-making (cf. Radaelli 2003) and in the socialisation mechanisms among the affected actors in the national and transnational length (cf. Whitaker 2005). Surprisingly little research has concerned the Europeanisation of national parties, as the subsequent tables show:
The intention of the following paper is to analyse to which extent Europeanisation affects national parties at the example of the Italian “Northern League”, and to examine to which degree the impact of European integration has led to an organisational adaptation in the party. The analysis will be based on a set of hypotheses derived from recent researches on the topic (cf. Carter et al. 2007, Poguntke et al. 2007).
In the first part, I will provide a theoretical background on the meaning of “Europeanisation” (chapter 2.1), on its significance for the Italian government system (chapter 2.2) and on its implication for national parties (chapter 2.3) in order to conceptualise the use of the term in the present paper. Subsequently, I will briefly describe the principal features of the party chosen for the case study with reference to its origin, development, electoral evolution, organisation and political discourse (chapter 3). In the fourth chapter, I will come to the analysis of the programmatic and organisational change of the party, examining its stance towards the European Union, the role of party leadership and EU-specialists, and the significance of collateral organisations.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction.: Defines the scope of the research on Europeanisation of national parties and presents the methodology and hypotheses guiding the study.
2. Theoretical background.: Explores the concept of Europeanisation and its specific relevance to the Italian political system and national party structures.
3. The Italian “Lega Nord”: Provides an overview of the origins, historical development, and political organisation of the Lega Nord.
4. Analysis of the case study.: Investigates the programmatic and organisational changes within the Lega Nord in response to European integration.
5.Conclusions and outlook.: Synthesizes the findings, discusses the validity of the initial hypotheses, and offers a critical perspective on the democratic implications of Europeanisation.
Keywords
Europeanisation, Lega Nord, Northern League, European integration, Political parties, Party organisation, Programmatic change, Italian politics, Populism, EU-specialists, Collateral organisations, Democratic deficit, Federalism, National parties, Political discourse
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic work?
The paper examines how the process of European integration influences national political parties, specifically focusing on the Lega Nord in Italy.
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
The themes include the definition of Europeanisation, the impact of the EU on national government systems, party internal power dynamics, and the adaptation strategies of populist parties.
What is the primary research goal or hypothesis?
The primary goal is to determine if European integration leads to a shift in power within national parties towards elites and EU-specialists, and how this impacts their collateral organisations.
Which scientific methodology is applied here?
The author uses a qualitative case study approach, analyzing party manifestos, programmatic shifts, and organizational changes through the lens of recent theoretical frameworks on Europeanisation.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical conceptualization of Europeanisation, the history of the Lega Nord, the programmatic evolution of the party, and the influence of MEPs and collateral bodies.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
Key terms include Europeanisation, Lega Nord, political parties, organisational change, and national party dynamics.
Why was the Lega Nord chosen as the specific case study?
It was chosen due to its populist nature, its distinct anti-system stance, and the unique way it navigates the tension between regionalist identity and national/European politics.
How does the party handle internal dissent regarding European issues?
The study notes that the party leadership maintains high centralization, which allows them to depoliticize European issues to avoid internal conflict and maintain a coherent populist front.
- Citation du texte
- M.A. Fabrizio Capogrosso (Auteur), 2008, To what extent does Europeanization affect national political parties?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/121626
