The Politics of the European Union

by Herman Lelieveldt , Sebastiaan Princen

• ISBN13: 9780521740111
• ISBN10: 0521740118
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-06-30
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

A new introduction to the European Union which uses the lens of comparative politics. This approach helps students understand the EU through comparisons with domestic politics and links with broader debates in political science. The text is supported by numerous examples, and chapters include briefings, fact files and controversy boxes which highlight important information and controversial issues in EU politics to widen and deepen student understanding. The authors have developed online 'Navigating the EU' exercises that introduce students to useful sources of information on the internet and help them to analyse policy-making in the EU. This textbook is a comprehensive introduction to EU politics and covers history, theory, key institutions and participants, as well as policies and policy-making.

Table of Contents

Setting the Scene: Origins, Analytical Perspectives and Institutions

The historical development of the EU

Analyzing the EU

The institutional framework

Legislation and decision-making: putting the institutional puzzle together

Key Actors in EU Politics: Citizens, Interest Groups and Political Parties

Public opinion and political participation

Interest groups and interest representation

Political parties and the European parliament

EU Policies: Agenda-Setting, Decision-Making and Implementation

An overview of EU policy-making

Agenda-setting

Decision-making

Implementing policies

Reflecting on the EU as a political system

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.