Europeanization and the Southern periphery

Book abstract:

This volume is concerned with the domestic adaptation of states on the southern periphery to the pressures emanating from the EU. The articles present an innovative and rewarding contribution to discussion of these topics and individually exemplify the asymmetry, fragmentation and dynamism of the Europeanisation process, underlining the importance of the distinct institutional settings to the nature of this process.

The book begins with a discussion of the concept of Europeanisation and its relevance to the southern regions of Europe. This is followed by an analysis of the effects of Europeanisation in three different spheres: political, economic and social. Each sphere is examined in turn through a series of case studies of the southern European states, from current EU Members such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal to the candidate countries of Malta, Cyprus and Turkey.

Together these studies illustrate the diverse ways in which actual or prospective membership of the EU impacts upon domestic polities, with both intended and unintended consequences.

The work will interest students and scholars of European Union Studies and European Politics.

Kevin Featherstone is Professor of European politics and Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration Studies at the University of Bradford. George Kazamias is a lecturer in politics at the University of Bradford.