Politicizing European integration. Struggling with the awakening giant

What role does European integration play in domestic politics? While many believe this issue is about to fundamentally reshape domestic politics, others argue that the 'sleeping giant' is, and will remain, fast asleep. Fusing two research strands - political communication and European integration politics - this text engages in the ongoing debate about the politicization of Europe by arguing that the question of how best to deal with the multifaceted nature of the European integration issue poses a tough challenge for the political elites in Western Europe.

Substantiated by new evidence based on media-content analysis, the book shows how the complex nature of this issue results in multiple, sometimes contradictory, linkages with traditional political divides and in bitter framing contests about the meaning of what Europe is actually about.

Contents:

1. Introduction
2. The challenging politicization of a multi-faceted issue
3. Public debates as a source of political data
4. Dynamics and participants of the public debate on Europe
5. How European integration orientations are structured
6. To speak or not to speak of Europe — issue-emphasis strategies
7. The framing of European integration
8. Wide awake or fast asleep? — the limited politicization of Europe
9. Conclusion

This book offers a comprehensive treatment of the timely question of the politicization of European integration. It shows how this issue's complex linkages with traditional political divides pose a tough challenge to politicians and lead to bitter framing contests about its actual meaning.