The European Court's Political Power

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Karen Alter's analysis of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) elevates the political understanding of this controversial institution by merging legal insights with theoretical inquiries. This collection compiles Alter's significant articles from a fourteen-year period, featuring a new introduction and conclusion that reflect on the Court's evolution and contemporary issues. The articles illuminate the historical and political dimensions of the ECJ's influence on European politics, detailing how its impact can fluctuate over time and across various issues. The exploration begins with the European Coal and Steel Community, highlighting the ECJ's initial struggles to enforce ECSC rules. Alter illustrates how legal actors, supported by advocacy movements and national courts, transformed the European legal landscape, shifting control from member states to the ECJ regarding the interpretation of European law. Despite this shift, the ECJ's influence remains inconsistent across different topics. Alter attributes this variability to the differing ways sub- and supra-national actors engage with the Court to pursue political goals. Additionally, the book includes four comparative chapters that assess the ECJ's role in the broader context of international courts and their potential future impact on global politics.