The Eurosceptic 2014 European Parliament Elections ― Second Order or Second Rate?

This edited collection explores the role of Euroscepticism in the European Parliament (EP) elections of 2014 both in particular EU Member States and across broader regions. It shows how the “second rate” features of elections with no clear agenda-setting role facilitated the astonishing success of Eurosceptic parties while the traditionally “second order” nature of purely legislative elections amplified this outcome, giving it a quite different character than the outcome of any previous EP elections, with potential in turn to affect outcomes of later national elections as well. The chapters draw on a number of different methodological approaches and focus on different perspectives regarding how Euroscepticism played a role in the election context, investigating public opinion, party strategies and media coverage; and assessing how these elections created links to national party politics with likely consequences for electoral success of Eurosceptic parties in future national elections and referendums. This book will be of particular interest to students and scholars in the fields of European politics, voting behavior Euroscepticism. 

Mark Franklin is Professor Emeritus of International Politics at Trinity College Connecticut, USA, having previously taught at the universities of Strathclyde, Scotland, and Houston, Texas. As a retirement position he was the inaugural holder of the Stein Rokkan Chair of Comparative Politics at the European University Institute in Florence.

Julie Hassing Nielsen is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and European chief advisor for the Think Tank Kraka. She obtained her PhD from the European University Institute. Her research interests include European integration, Euroscepticism, political psychology and political behavior.