THE TRANSNATIONAL DIMENSION OF THE ELECTION

In: Electoral studies: an international journal, Band 3, Heft 3, S. 235-244

Abstract

DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HAVE A TRANSNATIONAL AS WELL AS A NATIONAL DIMENSION. UP TO THE PRESENT, THE NATIONAL DIMENSION CLEARLY DOMINATES, HOWEVER. IN THE COURSE OF THE 1984 ELECTION CAMPAIGN, ISSUES CONCERNING THE STRUCTURE, FUNCTIONING AND DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY'S POLITICAL SYSTEM GENERALLY WERE OF MINOR IMPORTANCE. THE SAME CAN BE STATED FOR TRANSNATIONAL ACTORS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES. IN SPITE OF THE VARIOUS CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMISSION OF THE EC, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WITH ITS POLITICAL GROUPS AND THE EUROPEAN PARTY FEDERATIONS, THE DOMINANT PART OF THE CAMPAIGN WAS PLAYED BY NATIONAL ACTORS. IT IS ARGUABLE THAT THE 1984 ELECTION, COMPARED TO 1979, EVEN SAW AN ACTUAL 'RENATIONALIZATION' OF POLITICS, A FURTHER DIMINUTION OF THE ALREADY MODEST IMPORTANCE OF THE TRANSNATIONAL DIMENSION.