Description
Book SynopsisThis textbook introduces undergraduate and graduate students to the politics of the European Union using a comparative politics approach. This enables students to utilize their knowledge of domestic politics in understanding the EU and better grasp the specific character of its politics.
Trade ReviewPraise for the First Edition: 'In a world of either overly empirical or overly complex EU textbooks, Lelieveldt and Princen strike an excellent balance in writing a theoretically informed, empirically accurate and highly accessible introduction to the politics of the EU.' Mark Rhinard, Stockholm University in Public Administration
'Finally, an EU textbook that seamlessly weaves together comparative politics and EU politics … a richly textured, highly informative, yet accessible book for graduates and undergraduates.' Liesbet Hooghe, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and European University Institute, Florence
Table of ContentsList of figures; List of maps; List of tables; List of briefings; List of fact files; List of controversies; Preface; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations and acronyms; List of country abbreviations used in tables and figures; Part I. Setting the Scene: Origins, Analytical Perspectives and Institutions; 1. The historical development of the EU; 2. Analysing the EU; 3. The institutional framework; 4. Legislation and decision-making: putting the institutional puzzle together; Part II. Key Actors in EU Politics: Citizens, Interest Groups and Political Parties; 5. Public opinion and political participation; 6. Interest groups and interest representation; 7. Political parties and the European Parliament; Part III. EU Policies: Agenda-Setting, Decision-Making and Implementation; 8. An overview of EU policy-making; 9. Agenda-setting; 10. Decision-making; 11. Implementing policies; Conclusions and Reflections; 12. Reflecting on the EU as a political system; Key terms and concepts; Index.