ABSTRACT

Collective Action in the European Union addresses fundamental questions surrounding the European political economy. The impressive array of contributors ask how and why collective action is formed at the European level. They also consider whether collective action at the transnational level is driven by rational, utility maximising behaviour, or whether explanations couched in social terms are more convincing. Many of the chapters introduce fresh empirical studies, in the domains of business, the professions, consumers and environmental interests.

chapter 2|32 pages

What drives associability at the European level?

The limits of the utilitarian explanation

chapter 3|18 pages

The EU institutions and collective action

Constructing a European interest?

chapter 4|27 pages

A collective action problem?

Danish interest associations 1 and Euro groups

chapter 6|23 pages

The professions

chapter 7|27 pages

European consumer groups

Multiple levels of governance and multiple logics of collective action 1

chapter 8|20 pages

Environmental collective action

Stable patterns of cooperation and issue alliances at the European level