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Party Strategy and Attitudes Towards the EU

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Party Responses to the EU in the Western Balkans

Part of the book series: Global Political Transitions ((GLPOTR))

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Abstract

This chapter seeks to demonstrate how parties responded to European integration in relation to strategic electoral incentives stemming from the domestic party systems. It examines how the logic of electoral competition and post-election coalition formation affect party stances on this issue. The chapter also explores whether peripheral Eurosceptic parties strategically exploit their position within the party system by emphasising their opposition to the pro-EU political core. Party strategy proved to be a key component in the reorientation of a number of former Eurosceptic parties. Their transformation was a strategically driven response to internal and external incentives in the context of dynamic electoral competition and strong EU presence, and aimed at maximising their chances of securing executive office.

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  1. Department of International Relations and European Studies, Metropolitan University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    Marko Stojić

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Stojić, M. (2018). Party Strategy and Attitudes Towards the EU. In: Party Responses to the EU in the Western Balkans. Global Political Transitions. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59563-4_4

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