Mobilising Around Europe: Pro and Anti-EU Politics and Activism in an Era of Populism and Nationalism

Abstract

The European Union has recently faced various (existential) crises. The Eurozone and migrant crises, as well as the UK’s imminent departure, have raised questions about the EU’s ability to maintain cohesion in the face of rising nationalist and populist challenges across Europe. While much of the attention goes out to pro- and, especially, anti-EU politicians and political parties, public contestation around European integration not only happens at the domestic party-political level, and can also take the shape of social movements and cross-country mobilisation. This panel thus moves beyond the domestic party-political level, and focuses on the activities and strategies of pro- and anti-EU actors, including their (cross-national) networks and relationships with politicians, as well as the scope for transnational mobilisation and networks. It seeks to address questions of, when citizens mobilise against or in defence of the EU, what do they argue, what strategies and language do they employ, and how effective is their activism? In addition, what scope is there for pan-European party collaboration, and how have civil society organisations at the EU level responded to the alleged populist Eurosceptic turn in Europe?