Cabinets in Western Europe

the long version

This is the fully updated second edition of the presentation of the structure and workings of the national cabinets in Western European countries today. This book is based on a common framework which enables the reader to compare the origins, structure, composition and activities of these cabinets and therefore to draw lessons from this comparison. Emphasis is placed on the leadership and on the character of coalitions. At a time when ministers in Western Europe are working more and more closely together, a knowledge of the life of national cabinets has become a necessity as has also an understanding of the differences between types of cabinet decision-making in the context of reforms which are proposed of Western European governments.