Routledge Handook of European Elections, edited by D. M. Viola

Abstract : As a very interesting addition to the literature on European elections, this handbook will certainly become an essential reference work in the field. It offers detailed coverage of the institutions, parties, and European election results of all EU Member States. Its first part contains background information on the European Parliament (EP), explaining its genesis, organization and political make-up. These introductory chapters also briefly discuss the main theoretical frameworks to understand party competition and electoral choices in European elections. They in particular contrast the ‘Second-Order Election’ model with what the handbook calls the ‘Europe Salience’ model, referring to the general expectation that parties' and citizens' preferences over European integration should increasingly become relevant for explaining the results of European elections.