• Offers a significantly more comprehensive, current and diverse discussion of EU theories than other textbooks, and combines this with empirical data, enabling students to diagnose the cause and effects of current political events
• Treats the topics of theory, history, institutions, and policies with equal emphasis, ensuring that students develop a balanced viewpoint of EU politics
• Outlines the theory and ideas that underpin EU politics at the very beginning of the book, and continues to reference key theoretical concepts throughout , encouraging students to make their own linkages between theory and practice.
• Emphasises the practical considerations of policy-making (and not just the abstract ones) through example, bringing the topic to life for the student.
• Tackles difficult issues in a clear, accessible manner, without avoiding complexity or patronising students, and avoids jargon. This makes students more wiling to engage with the material.

New to this edition

• Two new chapters on the rapidly-expanding area of theory.
• Updated History section including expanded treatment of the Treaty of Amsterdam and two new chapters on the developments that took place after the Treaty of Amsterdam, and the enlarged European Union
• Updated Institutions section including new material on recent developments such as the terms of the Constitutional Treaty
• Updated Policies section in which a new introductory chapter on policy-making in the EU has been added and the previous chapter on External Relations has been split into two separate chapters on External Economic Relations and the Common Foreign and Security Policy
• New pedagogical features, including the following: Chapter overviews, web icons, revised conclusions, key terms, end-of-text map, single unified chronology of political events

Readership: Undergraduates studying European Union politics.

Ian Bache, Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics, University of Sheffield, and Stephen George, Emeritus Professor of Politics, University of Sheffield

" Politics in the European Union serves up a well-balanced mix of theoretical and empirical material, and will again appeal to both students and scholars with an interest in this area. Steven Kettell, Political Studies Review "

"The long awaited second edition of this key text - but well worth the wait! [Politics in the European Union] acts as a comprehensive introduction to the EU and in presented in a user-friendly fashion from both student and teaching perspectives. Dr. James Smith, Lecturer in Politics, Glasgow Caledonian University "

"Long awaited second edition of an excellent text, that covers, in an approachabel style, the history, government and politics of the EU. Janet Mather, Senior Lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University "

"This is an excellent introductory textbook for the students of European Politics, who are on the path of discovering the complexity of the Union, its history, structure and policies. It is also an updated account of recent developments and a brief analysis of the consequences of enlargement for the EU. Dr Elena Korosteleva-Polglase, Lecturer in European Politics, University of Wales, Aberystwyth "

Part One: Theory
1: Theories of European Integration
2: Theories of EU Governance
3: Critical Perspectives
4: Theorizing Consequences
Part Two: History
5: Europe after the War
6: The Schuman Plan for Coal and Steel
7: The European Defence Community, the European Political Community and the Road to the Rome Treaties
8: The European Coal and Steel Community and European Atomic Energy Community
9: The European Economic Community 1958-67
10: After Luxembourg: The 'Dark Ages' of European Integration?
11: The European Community into the 1980s
12: The Single European Act
13: Maastricht: The Treaty of European Union
14: The Road to Amsterdam: a Flexible Europe?
15: From Amsterdam to Nice: Preparing for Enlargement
16: After Nice; Enlargement Overshadowed
17: The EU at a Crossroads
Part Three: Institutions
18: The Institutional Architecture
19: The European Commission
20: The Council
21: The European Parliament
22: The European Court of Justice
23: Organized Interests
Part Four: Policies
24: Policies and Policy Making in the European Union
25: Agriculture
26: The Single Market
27: Economic and Monetary Union
28: Regional and Structural Policies
29: External Economic Relations
30: The Common Foreign and Security Policy
31: Enlargement