ABSTRACT
This chapter seeks to emphasise several key points. Firstly, that Euroscepticism must be considered in the many forms that it finds its expression in beyond the party system. Secondly, that it is not a new phenomenon. Thirdly, that Eurosceptics have had notable successes in affecting policy, at both EU and national levels, and that investigating Euroscepticism as a form of policy competition can provide useful insights. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it urges the reader to appreciate that Euroscepticism is fundamentally rooted in the idiosyncrasies of the member state in which it originates. As a singular European political space has yet to develop, a singular form of opposition to European integration has yet to emerge in parallel. This is an important consideration given the focus on individual Eurosceptic politicians and political parties and the many attempts of political scientists to develop a taxonomy of Euroscepticism. In a state of the art analysis, Mudde (2012) has argued that the academic study of Euroscepticism is still waiting for a sustained form of opposition to European integration to emerge. Hitherto, scholars have been grasping at an ephemeral concept that has either evolved or disappeared before it could be adequately conceptualised. Utilising individual case studies of successful opposition to European integration therefore presents an excellent opportunity to analyse the specific contexts within which Euroscepticism mobilises effectively.
