Policy-making and diversity in Europe : escaping deadlock / Adrienne Héritier.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 99-108) and index.

Print version record.

1. Escaping deadlock: policy-making in Europe -- 2. The context of subterfuge: diversity, fragmentation and the malleability of the European polity -- 3. The analytical approach and theoretical background -- 4. Market-making policy: transport and telecommunications -- 5. The provision of collective goods and the reduction of externalities: environmental policy -- 6. Market-correcting, redistributive policy: regional and social policy -- 7. Market-correcting, distributive policy: research and technology -- 8. Summary and conclusion: stalemate and subterfuge across policy areas.

Policy-Making and Diversity in Europe examines the European polity and its policy-making processes. In particular, it asks how an institution which is so riddled with veto points manages to be such an active and aggressive policy maker. Héritier argues that the diversity of actors' interests and the consensus-forcing nature of European institutions would almost inevitably stall the decision-making process, were it not for the existence of creative informal strategies and policy-making patterns. Termed by the author 'subterfuge', these strategies prevent political impasses and 'make Europe work'. The book examines the presence of subterfuge in the policy domains of market-making, the provision of collective goods, redistribution and distribution. Subterfuge is seen to reinforce the primary functions of the European polity: the accommodation of diversity, policy innovation and democratic legitimation. Professor Héritier concludes that the use of subterfuge to reconcile unity with diversity and competition with co-operation is the greatest challenge facing European policy-making.

English.

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