About this Research Topic

Background

The field of European politics is characterized by its complex and multi-layered nature, involving a myriad of actors such as EU institutions, national governments, parliaments, and political parties. In recent years, the political landscape within the European Union (EU) has been rapidly evolving, presenting new challenges and opportunities for inter-institutional relations and policymaking. Current questions revolve around how these entities interact, the influence they exert on each other, and the impact of their relationships on policy outcomes. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of understanding these dynamics to navigate the intricate web of European governance effectively. However, despite significant advancements, there remains a gap in comprehensively analyzing these interactions through a comparative and multi-level perspective. This gap underscores the need for further investigation into the patterns, challenges, and opportunities that define the policymaking processes across different levels of governance within the EU.

This research topic aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of European politics at the intersection between the EU and the national level. By examining the relationships among EU institutions, national governments, parliaments, and political parties, this research topic seeks to uncover patterns, challenges, and opportunities in policymaking processes. Through a comparative lens, it aims to identify commonalities and divergences, contributing valuable insights to scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. Ultimately, the goal is to foster a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics within the European political landscape and how decisions are formulated and executed across multiple levels of governance.

To gather further insights into the intricate dynamics of European politics, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• The impact of inter-institutional and inter-level relations on policy outcomes.
• Institutional behaviors and their influence on political competition.
• The role of EU institutions, governments, parliaments, or parties in shaping the European and national policy agenda.
• Recent developments, such as the implications of institutional reforms or the role of emerging political forces.
• Comparative analyses of policymaking processes across different EU member states.
• Theoretical frameworks that offer new perspectives on European governance.
• Methodological approaches that enhance the understanding of multi-level political dynamics.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: European Union, Governments, Parliaments, Parties, Policymaking

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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