Cabinets in Western Europe

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Introduction: Western European Cabinets in Comparative Perspective

   • Jean Blondel

   Pages 1-17

3. The United Kingdom

   • Martin Burch

   Pages 18-35

4. Ireland: Coalition Becoming the Norm

   • Brian Farrell

   Pages 36-51

5. The Netherlands: Coalition Cabinets in Changing Circumstances

   • Rudy B. Andeweg

   Pages 52-74

6. Belgium: A Complex Cabinet in a Fragmented Polity

   • André-Paul Frognier

   Pages 75-97

7. France: Cabinet Decision-Making under the Fifth Republic

   • Jean-Louis Thiébault

   Pages 98-115

8. Spain: A Prime Ministerial Government

   • Antonio Bar

   Pages 116-135

9. Italy: A Fragmented Government

   • Maurizio Cotta

   Pages 136-156

10. Austria: Routine and Ritual

    • Peter Gerlich, Wolfgang C. Müller

    Pages 157-170

11. Federal Republic of Germany: A System of Chancellor Government

    • Ferdinand Müller-Rommel

    Pages 171-191

12. Denmark

    • Tove Lise Schou

    Pages 192-209

13. Norway: Ministerial Autonomy and Collective Responsibility

    • Svein Eriksen

    Pages 210-224

14. Sweden: The New Constitution — An Old Practice Adjusted

    • Torbjörn Larsson

    Pages 225-243

15. Finland

    • Jaakko Nousiainen

    Pages 244-267

16. Concluding Remarks: A Comparative Approach to the Study of Western European Cabinets

    • Ferdinand Müller-Rommel

    Pages 268-276

17. Back Matter

    Pages 277-300

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A fully-updated second edition of the presentation of the structure and workings of the national cabinets in Western European countries today. This book is based on a common framework which enables the reader to compare the origins, structure, composition and activities of these cabinets and to draw lessons from this comparison. Emphasis is placed on the leadership and on the character of coalitions. When West European ministers are working ever more closely together, a knowledge of the life of national cabinets is vital as is an understanding of the differences between types of cabinet decision-making in the context of the reforms proposed of Western European governments.

• decision-making
• government
• reforms

• European University Institute, Florence, Italy

  Jean Blondel

• University of Lüneburg, Germany

  Ferdinand Müller-Rommel

Jean Blondel is a professorial fellow at the Robert Schuman Center for Advanced Studies, European University Institute, Florence, Italy.

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