European Union Politics

Description

Written by an expert contributor team, this is the most complete, current, issues-led textbook on European Union politics. It presents contemporary issues and debates alongside comprehensive coverage of the theory, institutions, policies, and history of the EU in a highly accessible, engaging style to help students grasp how the EU really works.

• Broad coverage of the history, theories, institutions, policies, and current debates of the EU makes this text suitable for a wide range of modules.
• Cases and examples throughout the text demonstrate the relevance of EU theories, institutions, and policies, and help students to understand the workings of the EU in practice.
• A clear writing style and helpful learning features make European Union Politics make this student-friendly introduction perfect for those coming to the subject for the first time.
• Contributions from leading scholars in EU politics offer the reader an authoritative guide to highly debated topics.
• The book's focus on issues and debates helps students to develop a critical approach to their studies of the EU.
• Also available as an e-book with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support

New to this edition

• A brand new chapter on Brexit discusses the background to and impact of this dramatic development in the European Union.
• A re-written chapter on policy-making brings in a new author perspective and helps to clearly explain the practical workings of the EU.
• Detailed coverage of the migration crisis, eurozone crisis, and their aftermath brings the book up-to-date with recent events.
• The final chapter on the future of the EU has been updated to account for current developments, including Brexit and the election of French President Emmanuel Macron, and how these may impact the future of the Union.

About the Author(s)

Michelle Cini, University of Bristol, and Nieves Pérez-Solórzano Borragán, University of Bristol

Michelle Cini is Professor of European Politics and Head of the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies at the University of Bristol.

Nieves Pérez-Solórzano Borragán is Senior Lecturer in European Politics at the University of Bristol.

Table of Contents

1:Introduction, Michelle Cini and Nieves Pérez-Solórzano Borragán
Part 1: 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 2: Theories and Conceptual Approaches
4:Neo-functionalism, Carsten Strøby 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 A. Börzel and Diana Panke
9:Democracy and Legitimacy in the EU, Stijn Smismans
Part 3: Institutions and Actors
10:The European Commission, Morten Egeberg
11:The European Council and the Council of the European Union, Jeffrey Lewis
12:The European Parliament, Charlotte Burns
13:The Court of Justice of the European Union, Ilias Kapsis
14:Interest Groups and the European Union, Rainer Eising
15:Citizens and Public Opinion in the EU, Simona Guerra and Hans-Joerg Trenz
Part 4: Policies and Policy-Making
16:Policy-making in the European Union, Edward Best
17:Trade and Development, Michael Smith
18:Enlargement, Ana E. Juncos and Nieves Pérez-Solórzano Borragán
19:The European Union's Foreign, Security, and Defence Policies, Ana E. Juncos and Anna Maria Friis Kristensen
20:The Single Market, Michelle Egan
21:The European Union's Social Dimension, Gerda Falkner
22:The Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice, Emek M. Uçarer
23:Economic and Monetary Union, Amy Verdun
24:The Common Agricultural Policy, Ève Fouilleux and Matthieu Ansaloni
25:Environmental Policy, David Benson, Viviane Gravey and Andrew Jordan
Part 5: Issues and Debates
26:The Euro Crisis and European Integration, Dermot Hodson and Uwe Puetter
27:Brexit, Nieves Pérez-Solórzano Borragán and Michelle Cini
28:The Future of the EU, Brigid Laffan

Reviews

"European Union Politics has become the textbook for students of the EU. It is a comprehensive book that covers the most important features of European Union politics and is always up to date, but at the same time it is accessible enough for all students regardless of their level of familiarity with the EU." - Raul Gomez, University of Liverpool

"If you are going to recommend one book for students studying the EU - choose European Union Politics. It is comprehensive in its coverage, well presented, and easily accessible." - Lee McGowan, Queen's University Belfast

"A great choice of textbook for introducing students to the history, theory, institutions, policy fields and current issues of the EU. It is easy to understand, well-structured, and includes useful resources." - Sandro Nickel, University of Aalborg, Denmark

Additional Resources

The book is fully supported by extensive online resources 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.
- Conduct further research 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.