"European Narratives And Euroscepticism In The Western Balkans And The EU

Moving from a social movement perspective this timely volume examines narratives on Euroscepticism and frames on Europe from below at the party and social movement levels. Revealing perspectives from both the Right and the Left it unpacks the emergence re-emergence and increase in critical ‘voices’ and opposition towards Europe. Based on extensive fieldwork in two candidate countries for accession to the EU and three member states it offers insight from analysis of focus groups interviews with Eurosceptic and pro-European political actors and ordinary citizens together with frame analysis and scrutiny of archival material electoral manifestoes and organisational documents. Revealing the development of Eurocritical frames it demonstrates the differences and similarities in narratives used to address Europe and the conceptualisation of Euroscepticism. Key cases examined include the rise of illiberalism in post-transition Slovenia; complex Euroscepticism in Poland; the path from strong support to harsh opposition in Italy; indecision over membership in North Macedonia; anticipating the future while revisiting the past in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Offering guidelines for the direction of future research and policy European Narratives and Euroscepticism in the Western Balkans and the EU is essential reading for scholars and students of political sociology political science European studies and international relations as well as policy makers concerned with trajectories pro and against Europe and the European integration process.