Europeanised or European?

In this new study of representation by civil society organisations in the European Union, Kröger does an excellent job in drawing out critical aspects of the politics of representation today. Fully versed in recent theoretical debates on representation, she provides a convincing framework within which to analyse a rich array of empirical material in three key areas of EU governance. The book sustains a clear and nuanced line of argument without simplifying the real-world complexities of CSO politics across the EU or the multiple channels and styles of representation involved. For scholars and practitioners in search of fresh insights into pressing issues of democracy and representation in the EU, Europeanised or European? will be essential reading. -- Michael Saward, University of Warwick

In a densely populated market of books on civil society organisations in the European Union, Sandra Kröger’s is a must-read. Her capacity to combine empirical methods with political theory centred on political representation sheds a new and fascinating light on the role of civil society organisations in the EU. She encourages the reader, rightly, to go beyond well-known aspects of deliberation and participation. While these remain important factors, they must be deepened through the analysis of CSOs' self-understanding of their representative role. -- Sabine Saurugger, Sciences Po Grenoble

Sandra Kröger is a lecturer in the politics department at the University of Exeter. Before joining Exeter, she was a lecturer at Bremen University, a Marie Curie fellow in Exeter and a fellow at the Hanse Wissenschaftskolleg in Delmenhorst. Her research focuses on different forms of political representation in the European Union, particularly by national parliaments and by civil society organisations. She has published widely on the topic and also is the convenor of the ECPR Standing Group on Political Representation.