The making of Britain’s European foreign policy

Book abstract:

The growing importance of the EU in British politics might almost be measured by the explosion of literature given to the study of the European Union. This work draws on and distils that reservoir of literature.

The book is organised in three parts: Part I sets out the context of Britain's European policy, exploring the development of that policy in chapter one and moving on to discuss the theoretical concepts that explain foreign policy in chapter two. Part II addresses the mechanics of policy co-ordination within government and evaluates the shift in power groups within Whitehall that have arisen as a consequence of the all embracing presence of the European perspective in government. The strains that these changes place upon the current institutions is explored in Part III and asks whether or not they will be adequate for the challenges ahead. Since 1973 the European dimension has been an increasing dynamic in the development of public policy - the influence remains and the transformation will continue.

The work will interest students, scholars and policy makers in European Studies, International Affairs and Public Policy.

Anthony Forster is a Lecturer in the School of Politics at the University of Nottingham. Dr Alasdair Blair is a Research Fellow at Nottingham Trent University.