Encyclopaedia of European elections /

This unique guide to European elections focuses entirely on elections for the European Parliament and related concepts and political responses from member nations of the European Union. The book offers a scholarly, interdisciplinary approach with essays written by scholars from various institutions in EU countries, particularly Germany, France, and the UK. In addition to exploring the meaning of the most recent parliamentary election in 2004, the essays examine how European citizens, leaders, and political parties responded to the movement toward political integration and EU expansion, and the way these responses are revealed in parliamentary and constitutional elections, as well as related national referenda. The editors view the election process itself as "a unique transnational ... electoral act," and they believe the encyclopedia offers evidence of a developing European civic identity. The book offers excellent maps, statistical tables, and an index to country names and broad concepts. After each essay is a brief bibliography citing books and journal articles, mostly from the 1990s to 2005. This work provides an important overview and analysis of European election issues that will appeal to students and scholars of contemporary European politics. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above. D. A. Lincove Ohio State University