Rethinking Britain and Europe: Plurality Elections, Party Management and British Policy in European Integration

by Mark Aspinwall

Rethinking Britain and Europe re-examines British policy toward the European Union. It develops the concept of "party management," where party leaders must achieve a balance between pro and anti-integrationists in their own party. Low majority governments need to balance between these veto players so that policy is cautious and hesitant. The book reviews major episodes from the Referendum on membership of the EEC in 1975, and amasses a wealth of primary data on economic and social activity with fellow EU members as well as the views of interest groups. It presents the results of more than a dozen interviews with former Cabinet ministers, aides, and other key players. It also considers how change to a proportional representation electoral system might alter British preferences on Europe and claims that the need to create a balance between pro and anti-integrationists raises the democratic legitimacy of British preferences.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4, 2004