Hertie School Research Repository
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Scientific and subversive: The two faces of the fourth era of political campaigning
No full textThis article sets out the case that democracies are now entering a fourth phase of “data-driven” political campaigning. Building on the existing campaigns literature, we identify several key shifts in practice that define the new phase, namely: (1) an organizational and strategic dependency on digital technology and “big data,” (2) a reliance on networked communication, (3) the individualized micro-targeting of campaign messages, and (4) the internationalization of the campaign sphere. Departing from prior studies, we also argue that the new phase is distinguished, by a bifurcation, into two variants—the scientific and the subversive. While sharing a common core, these two modes differ, in that the former retains a commitment to the normative goals of campaigning, that is, to mobilize and inform voters, while the latter explicitly rejects and subverts these aims, focusing instead on demobilization and the spread of misinformation. Both are presented as abstract or “ideal” types, although we do point out how features of each have appeared in recent election campaigns by mainstream and populist parties. We conclude by discussing the implications of these trends for the long-term future health of democracy
Co-ordination across internal organisational boundaries: How the EU Commission co-ordinates climate policies.
No full textThrough an analysis of climate policy-making in the European Commission (EU), this article argues that co-ordination in the Commission displays the same characteristics as the co-ordination across ministries in central governments, i.e., the properties of negative co-ordination. The article is based on a survey among Commission officials. Overall, the article reveals that a public administration perspective on the Commission proves invaluable to gain insights on how decisions are made at the European Union level. The article contributes to the emerging literature viewing the Commission as an ordinary bureaucracy – as opposed to a unique supranational organization
Enhancing Europe’s Global Power: A Scenario Exercise with Eight Proposals
No full textIn the present context of intensifying competition between the major trading economies and potentially game‐changing technological developments, the European Union is generally seen as the weaker party. Lacking the ‘hard power’ derived from military capabilities, it has laid claim to a ‘soft power’ of normative influence externally, yet even that is only partially utilised. Nor has Europe been able to exercise the power to coerce – ‘sharp power’ – commensurate with its economic weight as a trading bloc equivalent in size and reach to the US or China, its most prominent global competitors. How can Europe strengthen its position, and in what fields? Through a scenario exercise, we develop eight policy proposals aimed at countering Europe´s vulnerabilities and enabling it to assert its sharp and soft power more effectively. Specifically, we consider the feasibility, means and scope for their realisation. Together, they provide a transformative agenda for the EU’s position in the world
National parliaments' third yellow card and the struggle over the revision of the Posted Workers Directive
No full textThe Treaty of Lisbon strengthened the role of national parliaments in the EU legislative process by creating the Early Warning System. This procedure offers them the possibility to send reasoned opinions to the European Commission if they have subsidiarity concerns about a legislative proposal. Since 2009 the necessary threshold (i.e. one third of the total number of votes) has only been reached three times. The most recent of these 'yellow cards' was triggered by the Commission's proposal to revise the Posted Workers Directive, an event that allows us to shed some light on how national parliaments use this mechanism and how the European Commission has reacted. The subsidiarity concerns were rejected by the Commission and the legislative process continues despite deep divisions between old and new Member States over the controversial policy issue of revising the Posted Workers Directive
The EU must deprive Erdoğan of his basis for blackmail
Get PDFThe misery at the Greek-Turkish border can be put to an end: The EU‘s emergency mechanism allows for the rapid redistribution of refugees. Here is what should happen next
False information about coronavirus and beyond: Lessons for the EU?
Get PDFThe spread of the global coronavirus pandemic has infected the world with a substantial surge of false information. When there is already a significant amount of confusion, mis- and disinformation can amplify feelings of fear and enhance risks. Joint action is crucial to tackle this unprecedented amount of false information and the EU is well-placed to lead a coordinated response. While important steps have already been taken, more decisive action is necessary. This Policy Brief provides an overview of significant examples of mis- and disinformation in the context of the pandemic and identifies key lessons for the EU’s broader fight against false information
Asylum Reform: What to expect from Germany’s EU Council presidency
Get PDFAlthough the Covid-19 outbreak has reshuffled Germany’s agenda for the upcoming EU Council presidency, a three-point plan by the German government provided new impetus to the discussion about reforming the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). This Policy Brief analyses how Germany’s three-point plan, centred on the idea of a border procedure, compares to previous reform proposals and which elements of the plan can move the reform process forward. It concludes by identifying three areas in which the upcoming German Council presidency can adopt a pragmatic approach to forge a compromise in the Council
Parental Life Courses after Separation and Divorce in Europe
No full textThis open access book assembles landmark studies on divorce and separation in European countries, and how this affects the life of parents and children. It focuses on four major areas of post-separation lives, namely (1) economic conditions, (2) parent-child relationships, (3) parent and child well-being, and (4) health. Through studies from several European countries, the book showcases how legal regulations and social policies influence parental and child well-being after divorce and separation. It also illustrates how social policies are interwoven with the normative fabric of a country. For example, it is shown that father-child contact after separation is more intense in those countries which have adopted policies that encourage shared parenting. Correspondingly, countries that have adopted these regulations are at the forefront of more egalitarian gender role attitudes. Apart from a strong emphasis on the legal and social policy context, the studies in this volume adopt a longitudinal perspective and situate post-separation behaviour and well-being in the life course. The longitudinal perspective opens up new avenues for research to understand how behaviour and conditions prior or at divorce and separation affect later behaviour and well-being. As such this book is of special appeal to scholars of family research as well as to anyone interested in the role of divorce and separation in Europe in the 21st century