Policy Experiments, Failures and Innovations takes a policy studies perspective in considering post-communist EU member states? experiences since accession. The book analyses policy transfer processes and expands the new and growing sub-field of policy failure by interrogating the binary ideas of ?failure? and ?success? in the context of the Central Eastern European (CEE) transition, democratic consolidation and European Union membership. Contributions consider the extent to which external models have had real traction in the political economies and societies of the CEE countries. The book also considers the ways external models were adapted, transformed or sometimes abandoned in response to unexpected difficulties in implementation. It provides critical analysis of the setbacks, real or perceived policy failures, as well as innovations and unexpected outcomes in a number of important policy areas in the ?new? member states of the EU. This book will be of interest to policy studies scholars and European Union/European studies scholars. It is also relevant for students of European politics as well as general public policy degree courses at undergraduate and graduate level. Contributors include: D. Adascalitei, A. Batory, A. Cartwright, D. Craciun, S. Domonkos, H. Grabbe, A. Kemmerling, A. Krizsan, K. Makszin, L. Matei, G. Medve-Balint, B.G. Peters, D. Stone, S. Svensson, A. Tetenyi, S. Torotcoi, V. Zentai

How do parties adopt and change positions on the European question? How do they balance the demands placed upon them by ideology, voters and participation in coalition government? What are the sources of Euroscepticism, and how widespread is it among the parties and the public? This book addresses these questions by examining the politics of Hungary's accession to the European Union, from the early 1990s to 2004. The book provides a conceptually grounded yet accessible analysis of the way questions related to EU membership, and European integration in general, are channelled into political life. Starting with a comparative exploration of the impact of European integration on party politics in Western and Eastern Europe, the book goes on to review the Hungarian political parties' history, ideological profiles, electoral competition and coalition-building in government and opposition, as well as the dynamics of public opinion. It will be of interest to academics concerned with the contestation of European integration in EU member states, and specifically with party politics in Central and Eastern European. -- .