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European Studies

Over the years, CIRCaP has gained remarkable experience in high-profile research into Europe. The Centre currently coordinates two transnational projects of large size under the 6th and 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the European Union.

INTUNE

Since 2005, CIRCaP coordinates the IntUne project, one of the few Integrated Projects on the theme of Citizenship financed by the European Union within the scope of the 6th Framework Programme. It involves over 30 European Institutions and over 100 scholars across Central and Western Europe, a step forward in the strengthening of the European Research Area in social sciences and humanities in general. IntUne aims to study the changes in the scope, nature and characteristics of citizenship that result from the deepening and enlargement processes of the European Union. The project focuses on how processes of integration, at both the national and European level, affect three major dimensions of citizenship: identity, representation and scope of good governance. Problems of citizenship are addressed under this threefold approach by looking at the relationship between the public and elites and between European and domestic dimensions of political life.

For further information, visit the project website at http://www.intune.it

Forthcoming books:

- Best, H., Lengyel G. & Verzichelli L. (Eds.), The Europe of Elites. A Study into the Europeanness of Europe’s Economic and Political Elites, Oxford, Oxford University Press. – Sanders, D., Magalhães P., Freire A. & Tóka, G. (Eds.), Citizens and the European Polity: Mass Attitudes Towards the European and National Polities, Oxford, Oxford University Press. – Bellucci, P., Rattinger H. & Sanders D. (Eds.), The Europeanization of National Polities? Citizenship and Support in a Post-Enlargement Union, Oxford, Oxford University Press. – Bayley, P. & Williams G. (Eds.), European Identity: What the Media Say, Oxford, Oxford University Press. – Westle, B. & Segatti P. (Eds.), National Identity and European Identity, Oxford, Oxford University Press. – Schmitt, S. & De Winter, L. (Eds.), Political Representation in the European Union: Mass-Elite Congruence Regarding Matters of Identity, Polity, and Policy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

EUROPOLIS

Circap is studying the formation of a European public sphere and the changing nature of citizenship in Europe. Since 2008, the Centre coordinates the EUROPOLIS project funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme, Compagnia di San Paolo (Italy), King Baudouin Foundation (Belgium), Bosch-Stiftung Foundation (Germany), the Open Society Institute (Switzerland). The project is a carefully designed experiment that assesses how political and social attitudes toward EU issues change as a result of exposure to information, and what implications this has for political participation and voter turnout. It provides a unique opportunity to rigorously observe and evaluate how citizens’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour are modified by exposure to thorough and balanced policy information and participation in thoughtful deliberation during electoral periods. EUROPOLIS gives citizens of different nationalities the chance to confront one another, policy experts, and political leaders at the European level. This is an innovative instrument for bridging the often-lamented gap between national and European views in EU democracy. EuroPolis is an important event in the history of deliberative democracy.

Recent activities:
For further information, including the press release and results of the first Europolis Deliberative Polling event, which was held on May 29-31 2009 in Brussels, please visit the following website: http://www.gips.unisi.it/circap/europolis-a-deliberative-polity-making-project