Political Leadership and the European Commission Presidency
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press
Published:27th Nov '19
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
The EU's pluralistic, nonhierarchical system of multilevel governance lacks clear structures of both government and opposition. According to the EU treaties, the presidency of the European Commission is thus not explicitly expected to exercise political leadership. However, the position cannot effectively be exercised without any demonstration of such leadership due to its many leadership functions. Examining this curious mix of strong political demands, weak institutional powers, and need for political leadership, this book systematically analyses the political leadership performance of the presidents of the European Commission throughout the process of European integration. The basic argument is that Commission presidents matter not only in the process of European integration, but that their impact varies according to how the different incumbents deal with the institutional structure and the situational circumstances, and thus their available strategic choices. The primary research question is thus, What makes political leadership in European governance successful and to what extent (and why) do Commission presidents differ in their leadership performance? In addressing this question, this book departs from existing research on EU leadership, which has to date often analysed either the EU's institutional structure and its potential for leadership or mainly focused on only the most recent incumbents in case study analyses. Focusing on the multiterm European Commission presidents Walter Hallstein, Jacques Delors, and José Manuel Barroso, this book conceptualizes their political leadership as a performance, and thus systematically analyzes their agenda-setting, mediative-institutional, and public outreach performance over the entire course of their presidential terms.
This path-breaking book examines the political leadership of European Commission presidents. Despite intrinsic weaknesses in the office, Müller shows convincingly how and when various presidents are more or less effective in their leadership, examining their personal dispositions, the institutional structure and the specific circumstances in which these presidents serve their term. This study will prove to be the leading go-to work on political leadership of Commission presidents. * Amy Verdun, Professor of European Politics and Political Economy, Leiden University, and Jean Monnet Chair Ad Personam, University of Victoria *
This is an excellent and timely book. The scholarship is first-rate; the subject matter highly topical; and the writing refreshingly crisp. The author has mastered a wealth of material on political leadership in general and EU leadership in particular, and strikes a fine balance between theory and practice. Political Leadership and the European Commission Presidency should be essential reading for scholars and students of EU governance, especially at this crucial stage of the EU's development. * Desmond Dinan, Professor of Public Policy and Jean Monnet Professor Ad Personam, George Mason University *
This excellent book addresses the important but under-researched topic of the political leadership of European Commission Presidents. Resting on a systematic and comparative analysis and based on a convincing and clearly explained analytical framework, Müller seeks to unpack what really determines the (successful) leadership performance of Commission Presidents. * Michelle Cini, Professor of European Politics, University of Bristol *
Essential reading for those interested in the intra and interinstitutional relations of the European Commission and 'what makes political leadership in supranational governance successful'. Mu¨&ller's rich and diverse empirical content and in-depth analysis will enhance the debate about the strategies leaders use to achieve goals, garner support, and mediate and build consensus; it will also serve as a valuable source of information and even inspiration for political actors. * Buket Oztas, Perspectives on Politics *
ISBN: 9780198842002
Dimensions: 232mm x 159mm x 25mm
Weight: 660g
352 pages