The collapse of the communist regimes following the dramatic events of 1989-91 astonished the entire world. For many in the west, the 'triumph' of market capitalism was seen as finally ringing the death-knell for the communist movement. West European communist parties, many of which had harboured ambitions of winning significant political influence in the mid-1970s when 'Eurocommunism' was at its height, now found themselves faced with having to respond to a crisis which threatened the very logic of their existence. For some, the only rational response was simply to abandon communism. Others sought to adapt to the new circumstances, whilst a few sought to ignore them altogether. The chapters in this volume analyse the differing reactions of communist parties in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Britain and Germany to the challenges posed by the disintegration of the communist empire. Whilst it is no longer possible to talk of a coherent communist 'family' in western Europe. It may be too soon to write communism's obituary.

This is an analysis of the impact of the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union on the communist parties of Western Europe. Seven case-studies, covering the Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Belgian, British and German parties, provide a comparative perspective. The conclusion assesses the range of responses to the dramatic events of 1989-91 and the likely future direction of the west-European communist movement. It is argued that, whilst it is no longer possible to talk of a coherent "family" of communist parties, various individual parties - some of them in revised form - may continue to prosper.

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. Linked to declining levels of trust in core state actors and bodies, corruption has emerged as a key challenge to effective and legitimate governance, posing a growing threat to political stability. This comprehensive work addresses the most pressing debates in the field, covering the evolution of different concepts and approaches to analysing corruption, how it manifests in practice across key areas, and the prospects of different ways to tackle it. This interdisciplinary Research Agenda contains state-of-the-art surveys of the field of corruption and points towards an agenda for future research. Chapters explore top political and grassroots corruption, buying and stealing votes, corruption in relation to gender and the media, digital anti-corruption and an examination of whistleblowing and market-based tools. The book also offers the most advanced research in the measurement of corruption. Providing a detailed overview of the key questions and research areas in corruption studies, this Research Agenda will be a vital resource for scholars and students of corruption, governance and public administration. International anti-corruption NGOs and agencies will also benefit from the up-to-date survey of the core challenges they are seeking to address. Contributors include: C. Berti, M. Bocchiola, R. Bratu, E. Ceva, G.O Erlingsson, M. Fazekas, P.M. Heywood, D. Iragorri Carter, D. Jackson, N. Kossow, G.H. Kristinsson, I. Kubbe, N. Koebis, M. Loli, I. Mares, R.M.B. Kukutschka, O. Merkle, A. Mungiu-Pippidi, M.C. Vinciguerra, S. Wickberg, L. Young

Spain's membership of the European Union since 1986 has had a major impact. Driven primarily by political concerns to secure democracy, membership has also served as a catalyst to dynamic economic development in Spain. This book analyzes how the EU has helped shape the political process in Spain, focusing on the key institutions and the policy process. At the same time, Spain's increasingly proactive role within the EU is also explored, with particular attention given to the country's international position in post Cold War Europe. MARKET 1: Core text for specific courses on Spain and the EU; Supplementary text for courses on Spanish politics and EU politics for students of Politics, European Studies and Spanish; MARKET 2: Substantial general policy interest readership especially via Brussels bookshops and in Spain

This book analyses the impact of the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union on the Communist Parties of Western Europe. Seven case-studies, covering the Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Belgian, British and German parties, provide a tightly-argued comparative perspective. The conclusion assesses the range of responses to the dramatic events of 1989-91 and likely future direction of the west European communist movement. It is argued that, whilst it is no longer possible to talk of a coherent 'family' of communist parties, various individual parties - some of them in revised form - may continue to prosper.