The European Union: How does it work? 3rd ed.

The European Union: How Does it Work? is an introduction to the EU's structure and operations for those coming to the subject for the first time. Leading scholars and practitioners cut through the complexity to explain how the EU really works and why it matters.

The third edition of this successful textbook has been updated in light of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and the effects of the financial crisis on the Eurozone. It includes three new chapters, on the policy-making process, democracy in the EU, and EU internal and external security.

Student understanding of the main actors, policies and developments is aided by the inclusion of helpful learning features throughout the text. The European Union: How Does it Work is also supported by an Online Resource Centre.

Contents:

Part I. BACKGROUND
1. Introduction - Elizabeth Bomberg, Richard Corbett and John Peterson
2. How Did We Get Here? - Desmond Dinan

Part II. MAJOR ACTORS
3. The EU's Institutions - Richard Corbett, John Peterson, and Elizabeth Bomberg
4. Member States - Brigid Laffan and Alexander Stubb

Part III. POLICIES AND POLICY-MAKING
5. Key Policies - Alberta Sbragia and Francesco Stolfi
6. How Policies Are Made - Rory Watson and Richard Corbett
7. Democracy in the European Union - Richard Corbett

Part IV. THE EU AND THE WIDER WORLD
8. EU Expansion and Wider Europe - Graham Avery
9. The EU as a Security Actor - John Peterson and Sandra Lavenex
10. The EU as a Global Actor - John Peterson
11. Conclusion - John Peterson, Elizabeth Bomberg and Richard Corbett