Skupina Evropských konzervatistů a reformistů: svoboda vyměněna za vliv?
Ondřej Mocek, Petr Kaniok
???This article is searching for the motivation of founding of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament. It focuses on the two most important actors – the Czech Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and the British Conservative Party (CONS). The effort of the parties mentioned to exclude themselves from the mainstream is explained using the rational choice institutionalism. The special attention is paid to the case of ODS and CONS leaving the European People Party-European Democrats, and establishing their own political group. The analysis emphasizes the maximizing of the freedom of speech at the costs of political influence. The core of the analysis is a quantitative comparison of indicators which are evaluating the behaviour of the MEPs in all relevant aspects of their activities. The time period observed in the article is the 6th term of the EP and 7th term till 28. 11. 2011.
