Routledge Handbook of Euroscepticism

Since the advent of the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, a key turning point in terms of the crystallization of opposition towards the EU, Euroscepticism has become a transnational phenomenon. The term Euroscepticism has become common political language in all EU member states and with the advent of the Eurozone crisis increasingly ‘embedded’ within European nation states.

Bringing together a collection of essays by established and up-and-coming authors in the field, this handbook paints a fuller, more holistic picture of the extent to which the Eurosceptic debate has influenced the EU and its member states. Crucially, it also focuses on what the consequences of this development are likely to be for the future direction of the European project. By adopting a broad-based, thematic approach, the volume will centre on theory and conceptualisation, political parties, public opinion, non-party groups, the role of referenda - and the media - and of scepticism within the EU institutions.

Containing a full range of thematic contributions from eminent scholars in the field and contributions from EU practitioners closely involved in the current debate about the future of the EU, the handbook will become a definitive, frame of reference for academics, practitioners and those with an interest in the debate about the EU.

The Handbook of Euroscepticism will be an essential reference for scholars, researchers and practitioners working and researching in the EU and European field and more broadly of key interest to students of European Studies, EU and European Politics.

Dr Nick Startin’s research focuses on the Far Right in Contemporary Europe and on the impact of Euroscepticism on nation states (with a particular emphasis on the French case). His PhD in Politics was awarded by Brunel University. He also gained an M.Phil in French Studies from Birmingham University and a PGCE from the University of Warwick. He lectured for a decade in French, European Studies and Politics at the University of the West of England in Bristol. He was awarded the 2008 Political Studies Association (PSA) 'Vincent Wright Prize' for the best research paper on French Politics and in the same year was nominated PSA’s' Bernard Crick Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award'.

In 2011 he co-founded the thriving University Association of Contemporary European Studies (UACES) research network on Euroscepticism, and co-edited the special issue of theJournal of Common Market Studies (JCMS) entitled ‘Confronting Euroscepticism’.

Simon Usherwood’s research on euroscepticism has built on the ideas in his doctoral work and has led him to co-found and organise an extensive network of colleagues across Europe, as well as working with practitioners in the EU, national government and other civil society groups. After study in the UK, Germany and Belgium he has focused on research on the EU, and on enhancing the learning environment for students bringing in many new ideas in pedagogy, something that remains at the forefront of his work as Director of Learning & Teaching since 2011. He has been Deputy Head of School since 2008.