The European Union: How does it work?, 4th edition

The European Union: How does it work? is the perfect introduction to the EU's structure and operations for those coming to the subject for the first time. An expert team of scholars and practitioners cut through the complexity to explain how the EU works in practice, and equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to master the subject.

The fourth edition of this successful textbook reflects the ongoing changes in the EU in the aftermath of the Eurozone crises, and the global context in which the EU exists. It also features expanded coverage of theories of European integration and policy making, and considers the hugely topical debate about the UK's future in the EU.

Students' understanding of the main actors, policies, and developments in the EU is aided by the inclusion of helpful learning features throughout the text. 'How it really works' boxes challenge students to contrast the theory with how the EU actuallly works in practice, while 'Compared to what?' features encourage them to think broadly and critically about the reality of politics in the EU.

This edition is also supported by an Online Resouce Centre, designed to make teaching and learning more effective for both students and instructors.

Contents:

Part I: Background
1. Introduction - Daniel Kenealy, John Peterson and Richard Corbett
2. How did we get here? - Desmond Dinan

Part II: Major Actors
3. The EU's Institutions - Richard Corbett, John Peterson and Daniel Kenealy
4. Member States - Brigid Laffan

Part III: Policies and Policy-Making
5. Key policies - Alberta Sbragia and Francesco Stolfi
6. How policies are made - Fiona Hayes-Renshaw
7. Democracy - 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 Andrew Geddes
10. The EU as a global actor - John Peterson and Marlene Gottwald
11. Conclusion - John Peterson, Daniel Kenealy and Richard Corbett