Explaining the Politicisation Deficit

Abstract

European politics moves along two axes. One is ideological, the other territorial. One refers to the traditional left-right divide, the other to the national interests of the member states. A predominance of the ideological cleavage would be an indication of community cohesiveness. Greater salience of national interests, in contrast, would be revealing of internal divisions within the polity. Although the EU is a grouping of countries with plenty of cultural similarities and common geopolitical interests, European politics is difficult to translate into a left versus right contest. It is, quite often, communicated as a gladiatorial fight among national interests.