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Introduction: Interpreting B ritish E uropean Policy
Author(s) -
Bevir Mark,
Daddow Oliver,
Schnapper Pauline
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
jcms: journal of common market studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.54
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1468-5965
pISSN - 0021-9886
DOI - 10.1111/jcms.12201
Subject(s) - referendum , extant taxon , political science , perspective (graphical) , member state , state (computer science) , law and economics , public relations , sociology , public administration , positive economics , political economy , member states , european union , law , economics , international trade , politics , evolutionary biology , artificial intelligence , computer science , biology , algorithm
Abstract B ritain has had particular problems reconciling itself to the idea of being a ‘ E uropean’ actor and a wholehearted member of the EEC / EU since 1973. Now, potentially, the ‘awkward partner’ is edging towards the exit door of the EU because a membership a referendum gauging the opinion of a sullenly Eurosceptical UK public is a likely prospect in the coming years. The aim of this special issue of JCMS is to consider how one can account for the present state of affairs by adopting an interpretivist perspective on B ritish E uropean policy over the past four decades. The article begins with a comprehensive review of the extant literature on B ritain and E urope and an elaboration of the ‘traditions and dilemmas’ framework within which the contributors have studied the empirical material in their articles. It then explains the major themes that connect the articles and suggests how future research might build on the agenda proposed in this special issue.