This book discusses the change of five important institutional rules of decision-making in the European Union and proposes a general explanation of long-term institutional change which is also applicable for the change of decision-making rules beyond Europe.

Policy-Making and Diversity in Europe examines the European Union and its policy-making processes. In particular, it asks how an institution that is so riddled with veto points manages to be such an active policy maker. Heritier argues that the diversity of actors' interests and the need for consensus in European institutions would almost inevitably lead to deadlock, 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."

Policy-Making and Diversity in Europe examines the European Union and its policy-making processes. In particular, it asks how an institution that is so riddled with veto points manages to be such an active policy maker. Heritier argues that the diversity of actors' interests and the need for consensus in European institutions would almost inevitably lead to deadlock, 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."

Based on the research of the EU-6th framework funded research consortium on 'New Modes of Governance in the European Union', this volume explores the roots, execution and applications of new forms of governance and evaluates their success.

Die Policy-Analyse, die sich wesentlich mit Fragen der politischen Steuerung und der Gestaltung gesellschaftlichen Wandels befasst, befindet sich im Wandel. Die Policy-Analyse, die ihre ursprungliche Beeinflussung durch die Planungsdiskussion und den diesem zugrundeliegenden rationale und okonomisch kalkulierenden Menschen nicht verleugnen kann, sieht sich in vielerlei Hinsicht gezwungen, ihre Konzepte skeptisch zu betrachten und eine Erklarungskraft ihrer Hypothesen in Frage zu stellen. Seit mehreren Jahren schon werden Versuche unternommen, Gegenentwurfe zum "Rationality Project" zu...