Synopses & Reviews
Since the second edition of this popular
Very Short Introduction published in 2007, the world has faced huge economic and political change. Showing how and why the EU has developed from 1950 to the present day, John Pinder and Simon Usherwood cover a range of topics, including the Union's early history, the workings of its institutions and what they do, the interplay between 'eurosceptics' and federalists, and the role of the Union beyond Europe in international affairs and as a peace-keeper.
In this fully updated third edition, Pinder and Usherwood incorporate new material on the Lisbon treaty, the EU fiscal crisis, the state of the single Euro currency in its wake, and conclude by considering the future of the Union and the choices and challenges that may lie ahead.
About the Series:
Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series provides trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and complete--discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and how it has influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all students an accessible and abundant reference library. Whatever the area of study that one deems important or appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.
About the Author
John Pinder is Honorary Professor at the College of Europe, and Chairman of the Federal Trust, London.
Simon Usherwood is Senior Lecturer in the School of Politics at the University of Surrey.
Table of Contents
Preface
Abbreviations
List of boxes
List of charts
List of illustrations
List of maps
1. What the EU is for
2. How the EU was made
3. How the EU is governed
4. Single market, single currency
5. Agriculture, regions, budget: conflicts over who gets what
6. Social policy, environmental policy
7. 'An area of freedom, security and justice'
8. A great civilian power...and more, or less?
9. The EU and the rest of Europe
10. The EU in the world
11. Much accomplished...but what next?
References
Further reading
Chronology 1946-2013
Glossary
Index