Career Behaviour and the European Parliament - All Roads Lead Through Brussels?

- Uses extensive new sources of quantitative and qualitative data - Provides in-depth case studies and a large collection of interview data from over 50 politicians and practitioners affiliated with the legislature Career Behaviour and the European Parliament seeks to answer the question of how a political institution, such as the European Parliament, can impact the career ambitions and behaviours chosen by European politicians. Long considered a 'second order' legislature in its degree of political importance and prestige, the European Parliament is the only directly elected institution within the European Union and is an increasingly important part of the European legislative process. Using a major new source of quantitative data and interviews with more than 50 current and former European legislators, this book argues that as the institution has become increasingly professionalized and powerful, the volatility of its membership has declined. However, the professional ambitions of its members vary greatly by national background, leading to an uneven distribution of legislative seniority and influence within the legislature. The book presents a new theory with political careers acting as institutions in themselves, and also offers complete background information on all elected Members of the European Parliament, from 1979-2014.

1: Career Ambition in the European Parliament 2: An Institutional Theory for MEP Career Behaviour 3: Professionalization, Power, and Ambition 4: Federalism and Party Gatekeeping 5: Rapporteur Selection and Internal Advancement 6: French MEPs and the Effect of High Turnover 7: German MEPs and the Benefits of Seniority 8: Poland and the Future Face of the EP 9: Towards a Broader Appreciation for Political Careers