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Upsetting the agenda: the clout of external focusing events in the European Council

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2015

Petya Alexandrova
Petya Alexandrova*
Affiliation:
Institute of Political Science, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany E-mail: p.alexandrova@ipw.uni-hannover.de
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Abstract

Focusing events are sudden, striking large-scale occurrences that attract political attention. However, not all potential focusing events appear on the agenda. Combining data from multiple sources, this study conducts an analysis of the determinants of prioritisation of external focusing events in the European Council over a period longer than two decades. The results demonstrate that decisions regarding the placement of crises on the agenda are underscored by exogenous (humanitarian) and endogenous (geopolitical interest) considerations. Those events with a higher likelihood of agenda access include manmade incidents (versus natural disasters), events with larger death tolls and crises in the neighbourhood. Stronger competition between potential focusing events across time and space reduces the chances of access. The level of attention each event receives depends on purely strategic interests. Focusing events in neighbouring countries gain a higher portion of attention, as do occurrences in states having a larger trade exchange with the European Union.

Keywords

agenda settingEuropean CouncilEuropean Unionfocusing eventsforeign affairs
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Public Policy , Volume 35 , Issue 3 , December 2015 , pp. 505 - 530
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press, 2015 

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