Introduction Consequences of European Elections

This chapter sets the scene for the book, asking a fundamental question: given the second‐order nature of European elections, what consequences have these elections had on voters, parties, and the media. Did they help to increase public involvement in European politics and to strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the European Union? Or did they unintendedly help to undermine support for the European project by proving a forum for Eurosceptic parties? This chapter sketches a framework for analysing three kinds of intended and unintended consequences of European elections. These are consequences for 1) public debate and political involvement, for 2) party systems, and for 3) attitudes towards Europe. We sketch an outline of the volume, which generally assesses these consequences in a longitudinal perspective in the different chapters.