In view of the forthcoming Call for applications

the Network for the Advancement of Social and Political Studies - NASP

at the University of Milan

is pleased to invite you to the

Presentation of the PhD Programme

in Political Studies (POLS)

2021/2022

7 May 2021 h 14.30-16.30 (CET - Milan time) - on ZOOM

Programme

14.30  Welcome and Presentation of the Doctoral programme
           Matteo Jessoula (Programme Director, University of Milan)

15.00  Annual Lecture - The European Union: Consociational Past, Centripetal Future?
          Matthijs Bogaards (Member of the Faculty Board, Central European University)

Abstract

Consociational interpretations of the European Union (EU) are well established and help to explain the political stability of the 27-member state system. In contrast, the increasingly common centripetal elements have not yet received systematic attention. Using a framework originally designed to map the choices for divided societies, this article highlights centripetalism in EU party regulation and proposals for electoral reform. Going beyond the spatial distribution requirements that play such a central role in aggregative institutions in the EU, the article suggests that cross-national districts rather than a supra-national district provide the strongest incentive for European parties to organize EU-wide campaigns on European issues, fielding candidates with cross-national appeal. The article concludes with a reflection on the relationship between consociational and centripetal elements in the EU. It shows that consociationalism and centripetalism in the EU can continue to co-exist, though the balance is likely to change.