Description:
The EU Expansion analyzes the communication strategies of candidates and parties in the 2004 European Parliamentary elections. These elections marked the first opportunity for the selection of representatives to the enlarged European Parliament. They also provided an important opportunity to study how candidates and parties strike a balance between communicating the need to preserve the sovereignty and culture of their countries with the increasing realization that Europe can only preserve its significance in the world by forging a unified economic and political federation.
Research and analysis from both longstanding EU nations and those entering for the first time are provided. Chapters focus on the background and significance of the elections; the content of the party and candidate communications in representative countries; news media coverage of the elections; the effects of these communications on voters; and the unique perspectives of how the elections were covered and perceived around the world.
Review Quotes: «As the largest democratic community - and economic market - in the world, the European Union presents a significant topic for analysis. The collection of studies contained in this intriguing book, authored by some of the most noted political communication scholars from throughout Europe and the U.S., argues that citizens within EU member states suffer from a 'communication deficit' creating a 'democratic deficit' that threatens the future development and perhaps very survival of the EU. This book should be required reading for all who desire a greater understanding of the European Union.» (Mitchell S. McKinney, University of Missouri, Columbia)