European Union Politics

European Union Politics is the most complete, current, issues-led textbook on the European Union. Written by an expert team of contributors, it fully equips students to understand the European Union and the topical debates and issues which surround it. Alongside comprehensive coverage of the history, theory, institutions, and policies of the EU, the book features a whole section on contemporary issues and current debates, including democracy and legitimacy in the EU, public opinion, the economic crisis, and a brand new chapter on the future of the EU, which is written by a leading expert in the subject. The accessible and wide-ranging nature of this text makes it the ideal starting point for all those wishing to fully understand the workings of this ever-evolving subject. Helpful learning features throughout the text, including key points, questions, and examples, support students' learning, and the book is fully supported by an extensive Online Resource Centre designed to help students take their learning further. For students: - Test your knowledge of the chapters and receive instant feedback with online multiple choice questions. - Take your learning further with relevant web links to reliable online content and links to OUP journal articles. - Revise key terms and concepts from the text with a digital flashcard glossary. - Prepare effectively for assessments with help from the online revision guide. - Expand your knowledge of the EU's member states with an interactive map of Europe. - Remind yourself of key actors in the EU with short biographies of important figures in its history. For registered lecturers - Reinforce key themes from each chapter with suggested seminar and essay questions. - Use the adaptable PowerPoint slides as the basis for lecture presentations or as hand-outs in class. - Encourage students to participate in active learning with examples of simulation exercises. In a European Union beset by the ill-winds of multiple economic, social and political crises, this edited volume holds steady, looking on at the apparent chaos of recent years to put fast-paced empirical developments into clear and reasoned perspective, thanks to the concise, state-of-the-art contributions from leading political science scholars in the field. The editors continue to recruit top EU scholars in their fields to stay absolutely current with this fast-moving and complex political system. The text beautifully balances offering clear, concise and accessible explanations with the presentation of important processes and analytical concepts that allow both new and experienced students of the EU to go deeper. Professor Antony Zito, Newcastle University There are many published guides to the complicated worlds of the European Union, but this volume has always stood out. This new fifth edition is special indeed. George Ross, ad personam Chaire Jean Monnet, Universite de Montreal Written by experts in the various areas of EU politics, the text is always up-to-date and covers all topics essential for an introductory text. Trygve Ugland, Bishop's University, Canada This is a great book and it holds a clear advantage over its competitors, primarily because of its great scope and accessibility. Daniel Walther, Umea University, Sweden The best book out there on the EU. It really draws on on-going research and changes in the EU literature. Diana Morlang, Santa Clara University, USA1. INTRODUCTION - MICHELLE CINI AND NIEVES PEREZ-SOLORZANO BORRAGAN ; PART ONE: THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT ; 2. THE EUROPEAN UNION: ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT - DAVID PHINNEMORE ; 3. FROM THE CONSTITUTIONAL TREATY TO THE TREATY OF LISBON AND BEYOND - CLIVE CHURCH AND DAVID PHINNEMORE ; PART TWO: THEORIES AND CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES ; 4. NEO-FUNCTIONALISM - CARSTEN S. JENSEN ; 5. INTERGOVERNMENTALISM - MICHELLE CINI ; 6. THEORIZING THE EUROPEAN UNION AFTER INTEGRATION THEORY - BEN ROSAMOND ; 7. GOVERNANCE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION - THOMAS CHRISTIANSEN ; 8. EUROPEANIZATION - TANJA BOERZEL AND DIANA PANKE ; PART THREE: INSTITUTIONS AND ACTORS ; 9. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION - MORTEN EGEBERG ; 10. THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION - JEFFREY LEWIS ; 11. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - CHARLOTTE BURNS ; 12. THE COURTS OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION - ILIAS KAPSIS ; 13. INTEREST GROUPS AND THE EUROPEAN UNION - RAINER EISING ; PART FOUR: POLICIES AND POLICY-MAKING ; 14. POLICY-MAKING IN THE EUROPEAN UNION - RALF DRACHENBERG AND ALEX BRIANSON ; 15. EU EXTERNAL RELATIONS - MICHAEL SMITH ; 16. ENLARGEMENT - ANA E. JUNCOS AND NIEVES PEREZ-SOLORZANO BORRAGAN ; 17. THE EUROPEAN UNION'S FOREIGN, SECURITY, AND DEFENCE POLICIES - ROBERT DOVER AND ANNA MARIA FRIIS-KRISTENSEN ; 18. THE SINGLE MARKET - MICHELLE EGAN ; 19. THE EUROPEAN UNION'S SOCIAL DIMENSION - GERDA FALKNER ; 20. THE AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE - EMEK M. UCARER ; 21. ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION - AMY VERDUN ; 22. THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY - EVE FOUILLEUX AND MATTHIEU ANSALONI ; 23. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY - DAVID BENSON AND ANDREW JORDAN ; PART FIVE: ISSUES AND DEBATES ; 24. DEMOCRACY AND LEGITIMACY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION - STIJN SMISMANS ; 25. PUBLIC OPINION AND THE EUROPEAN UNION - SIMONA GUERRA AND LAUREN M. MCLAREN ; 26. THE EURO CRISIS AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION - DERMOT HODSON AND UWE PUETTER ; 27. THE FUTURE OF THE EU - BRIGID LAFFAN