Organized Interests and the European Community (SAGE Studies in Neo-Corporatism) - Hardcover

`From the introduction, through six case studies to the concluding chapter, an ambitious but intellectually rigorous line is pursued with admirable tenacity. A broad understanding of `interests' is coupled with a subtle analysis of the Community to provide a sophisticated interpretation of the problems facing those seeking to influence EC policies... This book manages to show with great clarity that, while `pluralism-at-the-EC level' is far too glib a dismissal of the failure to develop a new form of macro-corporatism, neither do corporatist arrangements prevail except in a few limited cases. It is therefore somewhat brave to conclude that, as integration accelerates, the `Brussels strategy' will probably become more the norm among interests: yet so well is the ground prepared that the reader is likely to respect the editors' judgement' - Journal of Common Market Studies

`an important contribution to the area and will reward those interested in EC policy-making, the study of interest groups, and in the individual sectors that are covered' - West European Politics

`Greenwood and Ronit's comparative study of the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industries is enlightening... Cawson's chapter on the consumer electronics industry, is clearly argued and convincing. Visser and Ebbinghaus offer a compelling analysis of the decline of organized labour in Europe. The editors provide a useful introductory survey of existing literature on the interplay between organized interests and European integration... The collection as a whole sheds welcome light on a set of issues that has been understudied by both students of interest groups and those concerned with EC politics. Amongst its chapters are several outstanding pieces of work which deserve to be widely read and cited' - Public Administration

At the heart of understanding this process lies a recognition of two factors. Firstly, that interest associations are but one among a vast set of mechanisms of governance. Secondly, that interest associations are themselves diverse in levels, domains, territories and the size of their operations.

The book contains studies of key sectors, particularly in high technology, of business and labour organizations and also reviews the importance of size and territoriality.