Deforming the Reform

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

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2. Introduction: The European Paradox of Expecting Corrupt Political Elites to Lead the Fight Against Corruption

   • Luana Martin-Russu

   Pages 1-17Open Access

3. Towards a Theory of De-Europeanization, an Elite-Based Approach

   • Luana Martin-Russu

   Pages 19-90Open Access

4. Fragmentation: A Trait of the Romanian Political Elite

   • Luana Martin-Russu

   Pages 91-122Open Access

5. Romania’s Justice and Anti-Corruption Reform: A Stubborn Divergence from European Norms in Pursuit of Personal Gains

   • Luana Martin-Russu

   Pages 123-150Open Access

6. Romania’s Nature Conservation Reform: A Surprising Convergence with European Law in Response to Societal Concerns

   • Luana Martin-Russu

   Pages 151-182Open Access

7. Conclusion: Civism Against Cynicism

   • Luana Martin-Russu

   Pages 183-192Open Access

8. Back Matter

   Pages 193-211

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This open access book presents an actor-centered study on Europeanization, based on the assumption that EU-driven reforms are highly dependent on the behavior and interests of the key domestic actors. Whether or not a state pursues a European and democratic agenda depends on domestic lawmakers. Further, political elites are pre-eminent in deciding on the nature, form and content of any law, and on the extent to which the rule of law is actually enforced. Elites can overcome structural or institutional barriers that stand in the way of achieving their goals. The empirical study on Romania presented here lends this observation a more profound meaning: it shows how, in contexts where high level corruption is the norm rather than the exception, self-serving political elites cannot be expected to genuinely commit to adopting sound anti-corruption reform. The book is an inquiry into the motivations that drive legislators to make particular decisions, but also into the structural characteristics and dynamics of the elite that invite a selfish rather than responsible and responsive behaviour.

This publication was supported by funds from the Publication Fund for Open Access Monographs of the Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany.

• Europeanization
• Romania
• European Union
• EU
• post-accession conditionality
• Central and Eastern Europe
• political elite
• corruption
• justice reform
• civil society empowerment
• European Union Politics
• Russian and Post-Soviet Politics
• Open Access

• European New School of Digital Studies, European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany

  Luana Martin-Russu