4. The Dynamics of European Political Systems
Study
As discussed in previous chapters, constitutions provide the legal framework for political systems, and individuals and groups operate within, and give life to, these legal frameworks. Chapter 4 focuses attention on important factors affecting the relationship among individuals, groups, and constitutional frameworks. The factors include socioeconomic conditions, social divisions, political culture, and political leadership.
The socioeconomic setting of European countries is both an opportunity for, and a constraint on, what countries can accomplish. Many conditions are determined by geography and the abundance or scarcity of natural resources. Other conditions, such as reliance on a particular sector of the economy, patterns of domestic consumption, or patterns of international trade, can be affected by government policies. Although the core countries of Western Europe are wealthy, highly industrialized, market-based economies, chapter 4 makes clear that newer members of the European Union have substantially different economic and political profiles. Thus, while the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have moved from industrialized economies to more service-based economies (postindustrial, perhaps), the new members of the EU look to the organization as a means to improve their economies and stabilize their democratic political institutions.
Chapter 4 draws attention to the major, politically relevant social divisions in Europe and the patterns of political party representation of those cleavages. They include (1) a center-periphery cleavage, (2) a church-state cleavage, (3) an agricultural-industrial cleavage, and (4) an owner-worker cleavage.
Finally, moving beyond social divisions influencing the political behavior of mass publics, chapter 4 draws attention to the equally important, if less-studied, subject of elite politics and political recruitment in Europe. The integration or fragmentation of the governing elite affects the balance between consensus and conflict in a political system. Consequently, the discussion highlights the degree to which patterns of education and training, recruitment to public office, and shared life experiences of elites affect politics in Europe.
Review Questions
After reading the chapter, students should be prepared to answer the following questions:
- Explain how politically relevant cleavages such as the center-periphery, church-state, agricultural-industrial, and owner-worker social cleavages influence the party systems and patterns of citizen representation in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
- Explain how integration or fragmentation of the governing elite affects the balance between consensus and conflict in European politics.
- How have conflicting proposals for social, economic, and political reforms designed to improve the conditions of workers and the working class affected politics and the party systems in Europe?
- Why, given the opportunity to have a direct impact on European Union affairs, have the electorates in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany been apathetic and even disenchanted with the European Union?
