The European Parliament and Supranational Party System: A Study in Institutional Development

Half-title......Page 3
Series-title......Page 5
Dedication......Page 6
Title......Page 7
Copyright......Page 8
Contents......Page 9
Figures......Page 13
Tables......Page 15
Acknowledgments......Page 17
1 Introduction: The European Parliament and the Institutional Evolution of Legislatures......Page 19
Why the European Parliament?......Page 21
The Approach......Page 23
The Evidence......Page 24
The Theoretical Models......Page 31
The Macro Model......Page 32
The Micro Model......Page 33
The Macro Model Applied......Page 36
The Micro Model Applied......Page 38
Testing the Models......Page 43
Testing the Macro Model......Page 44
Testing the Micro Model......Page 45
Conclusions......Page 46
The Development of the Party Group System......Page 48
Traditional Analysis of Party Systems......Page 49
The Macro Model Applied......Page 51
The Micro Model Applied......Page 53
Testing the Models......Page 55
Testing the Macro Model......Page 56
The Internal Development of the Party Groups......Page 57
Traditional Studies of Political Parties......Page 58
The Macro Model Applied......Page 61
The Micro Model Applied......Page 63
The Macro Model Tested......Page 66
The Micro Model Tested......Page 67
Conclusions......Page 68
4 The History of the European Parliament......Page 70
The Predecessor: The Common Assembly of the ECSC (1950–1957)......Page 71
The Creation of the European Economic Community (1955–1958)......Page 74
The Early Years (1958–1968)......Page 78
The First Period of Development (1969–1978)......Page 83
The Second Period (1979–1986)......Page 89
The Third Period of Development (1987–1996)......Page 95
5 The Internal Development of the European Parliament: From Collegiality to Conflict......Page 109
The Internal Development of the European Parliament......Page 110
Testing the Macro and Micro Explanations of Internal Reform......Page 111
The Macro Model Applied......Page 113
The Micro Model Applied......Page 120
Conclusions......Page 138
6 The Development of the Supranational Party Group System: Conflict and Cooperation in the Coalition Formation Process......Page 141
Applying the Macro and Micro Models......Page 142
Methodology......Page 145
I Legislature: 1979–1983......Page 151
II Legislature: 1984–1988......Page 156
III Legislature: 1989–1993......Page 160
IV Legislature: 1994–1996......Page 165
Conclusions......Page 169
7 Cooperation and Co-Decision: The Role of Ideology and Rules......Page 171
Coalition Formation Under the New Procedures......Page 172
The Role of Ideology in the European Parliament......Page 180
Where Is the Ideology Hiding? Areas of Contention in the EP......Page 186
Conclusions......Page 190
8 The Internal Development of the Supranational Party Groups: An Elusive Goal......Page 195
The Historical Development of the Party Groups......Page 197
Cultural and Historical Explanations of Political Group Formation......Page 203
The Distribution of Positions of Authority Within the European Parliament......Page 205
The Distribution of Positions of Authority Within the Party Groups......Page 208
The Development of the Internal Rules of the EPP and the PES......Page 210
The Allocation of Benefits......Page 216
The Informal Role of the National Delegations......Page 220
The Impact of National Delegation Power......Page 224
Conclusions......Page 227
9 Conclusions: Understanding the Developmental Process......Page 230
The Macro and Micro Models: Beyond the American Legislative Context......Page 231
The Internal Development of the EP and Supranational Party Groups......Page 233
The Development of New and Emerging Legislatures and Party Systems......Page 237
Conclusions......Page 239
Appendices......Page 241
Bibliography......Page 259
Index......Page 273