A Series Of Research Seminars
The issue of Euroscepticism is not only an exclusively British concern. Political parties across Europe are increasingly expressing Eurosceptic rhetoric. This series of research seminars was designed to map the breadth and depth of party-based Euroscepticism across contemporary Europe and to broaden our understanding of this phenomenon.
The research seminars were held in the Sussex European Institute, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, University of Leicester and the University of Warwick from the autumn 2001 until the end of 2002. They featured national experts discussing the role of Euroscepticism in their party systems as well as presentations about the wider comparative lessons that can be drawn from the case studies. The series was designed to foster co-operation between the academic and practitioner communities. Each seminar generated a summary briefing paper of the main findings, made available on the web and in hard copy.
A report of the first seminar held at the Sussex European Institute in December 2001 is available as EPERN Briefing Paper No.1 (Contents: The Comparative Context of Euroscepticism across EU Member States and Candidate States; Euroscepticism in Romania; Euroscepticism in Denmark; The Salience of the European Issue; Overall Key Points.) A brief report is also available in the Spring Term 2002 issue of Euroscope.
A report of the second seminar held at the University of Cambridge in January 2002 is available as OERN Briefing Paper No. 2 (Contents: Symbolic politics, shared secrets, and the unsaid: Contribution to an analysis of the role of identity in the European integration process; It couldn't happen here? The implications of support for integration and orientations to participation in the member states in the light of the Irish Nice referendum; Euroscepticism in Slovenia and Croatia; Party-based Euroscepticism in Estonia; Overall Key Points.) A brief report is also available in the Spring Term 2002 issue of Euroscope.
A report of the third seminar held at the University of Leicester in June 2002 is available as OERN Briefing Paper No. 3 (Contents: Euroscepticism in Central and East European Countries: Divergent Agendas?; The European Issue in Bulgaria; Greek Euroscepticism: From the Cold War to the Euro; Euroscepticism in Italy; Key Overall Points.) A brief report is also available in the Auturm Term 2002 issue of Euroscope.
A report of the fourth seminar held at the University of Warwick in September 2002 is available as OERN Briefing Paper No. 4 (Contents: British Eurosceptic Opinion and Tactics: Does the Electoral System Matter?; Limited Engagement: The Rules and Realities of the Labour Party's European Involvement; Anti-Europeans, Anti-Marketeers, and Eurosceptics: the evolution and influence of Labour and Conservative opposition to Europe; Defending the 'British Way': Sovereignty, Nationhood, and British Euroscepticism; Key Overall Points.) A brief report is also available in the Auturm Term 2002 issue of Euroscope.
A report of the fifth seminar held at the LSE in December 2002 is available as OERN Briefing Paper No. 5 (Contents: Euroscepticism and the Party Politics of Referendums; Euroscepticism in Turkey; Euroscepticism in the Czech Republic; The Study of the Comparative Party Politics of Euroscepticism and Where We Go from Here; Key Points.) A brief report is also available in the Spring Term 2003 issue of Euroscope.
The seminar series was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council Award R451 26 5110 and organised through the Opposing Europe Research Network