The European Union Since 1945 (Seminar Studies in History)

 

“The European Union Since 1945 should be read by undergraduates in introductory EU courses, policy practitioners who are interested in how the European project developed over time, and by the intelligent general reader. This is an excellent example of how an accessible textbook with crucial supporting documents should be written, documented and presented.”

 

Neil Winn, European Foreign Affairs Review

 

“...The most concise and accurate description of the development of European institutions and their policies.”

 

Michael J. Steffens, Political Studies Review

 

“The author is balanced in his presentation of the controversies surrounding the organisation and its future.”

 

Dr James Munson, Contemporary Review

 

The European Union faces a crossroads in the twenty-first century. While there is evidence of declining enthusiasm for European integration, the EU plays an increasingly vital role in tackling problems that can no longer be dealt with at member state level.  In recent years, the EU has developed a stronger foreign, security and defence policy, and has had to face up to the challenges of tackling organised crime, human trafficking and drug smuggling.

 

In this fully updated new edition, Alasdair Blair examines the economic, political, social and personal factors that have shaped the process of European integration from the end of the Second World War until the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. Written in a clear and jargon-free style, the book explores:

 

• The context of European integration and expansion
• The relations between the European Union and its member states
• The institutional evolution of the European Union
• Methods of decision-making
• Key policies of the European Union
• The future direction of the European Union

 

Comprehensive and accessible, this book is an essential guide to understanding the relevance of the European Union in the twenty-first century.

 

ALASDAIR BLAIR is Professor of International Relations and Head of the Department of Historical and Social Studies at De Montfort University. He is the author of eight books, including International Politics: An Introductory Guide (2009) and Companion to the European Union (2006).

 

 

 

 

 

'The author is balanced in his presentation of the controversies surrounding the organisation and its future.'

Dr James Munson, Contemporary Review, Volume 287, No 1677, October 2005

'...the most concise and accurate description of the development of European institutions and their policies.'

'...a welcome contribution to the historical research on European integration. It provides a crisp and accessible overview of the major developments that will be enjoyed by its readers.'

Michael J. Steffens, Political Studies Review, Volume 4, Number 2, May 2006

‘The clear accessible chapters, documents and timeline are designed to be accessible and helpful for the reader… The European Union Since 1945 should be read by undergraduates in introductory EU courses, policy practitioners who are interested in how the European project developed over time, and by the intelligent general reader. This is an excellent example of how an accessible textbook with crucial supporting documents should be written, documented and presented.’

 

Neil Winn, European Foreign Affairs Review 11: 281-290,2006

 

A concise, accessible introduction to the EU since 1945, this Seminar Study introduces readers to the basic concepts and the history of the organisation, and has been fully updated to include developments from 2000 – 2010.

• Fully updated and expanded
• Contains diagrams and statistical material to support the text
• Wide range of primary source material, including maps, documents and photographs
• Contains all the pedagogical features associated with Seminar Studies – chronology, glossary, who’s who, documents, and bibliography.

General Editors: Clive Emsley and Gordon Martel

 

The European Union has an important significance for the governance of the member states within it, and a wider impact on external policy developments. It is a unique body whose influence permeates beyond its own borders. In this book, Alasdair Blair provides an up-to-date account of the history of European integration from its emergence at the end of Word War II until the negotiation of the Constitutional Treaty in 2004.

 

Adopting a chronological approach, Blair examines the economic and political factors that have shaped the process of European integration.  Written in a clear, jargon-free and accessible style, the book explores:

·         the problem of European integration and expansion

·         the relationship between the European Union and its member states

·         the institutional evolution of the European Union

·         methods of decision making

·         key policies of the European Union

·         the future direction of the European Union

 

 

Also including key features such as a comprehensive primary documents section, a Glossary of Terms, a Who¿s Who of key personalities, a detailed chronology, a Bibliography and Guide to Further Reading, this book is an essential guide to understanding the relevance of the European Union in the 21st century.

 

 

ALASDAIR BLAIR is Jean Monnet Chair and Reader in International Relations at Coventry University.

 

An authoritative and accessible account of the historical development of the European Union since 1945.

• Relevant and important to current European affairs
• The EU is a unique body whose influence permeates beyond its own borders
• Provides historical perspective to EU
• Looks forward to discuss the future of the EU

The European Union since 1945  provides a general survey of European intergration, from its emergence at the end of World War II to the negotiation of the Constitutional Treaty in 2004 and enlargement to Central and Eastern Europe.  Adopting a chronological approach, the book examines the economic and political factors that have shaped the process of European Integration, and as a consequence the transfer of power away from member states, have been primarily the result of decisions taken by the member states themselves.

Suitable for undergraduate courses on the EU taken as part of the European Studies, History, Politics, International Relations or Law degree.

General Editors: Clive Emsley and Gordon Martel

 

The European Union has an important significance for the governance of the member states within it, and a wider impact on external policy developments. It is a unique body whose influence permeates beyond its own borders. In this book, Alasdair Blair provides an up-to-date account of the history of European integration from its emergence at the end of Word War II until the negotiation of the Constitutional Treaty in 2004.

 

Adopting a chronological approach, Blair examines the economic and political factors that have shaped the process of European integration.  Written in a clear, jargon-free and accessible style, the book explores:

·         the problem of European integration and expansion

·         the relationship between the European Union and its member states

·         the institutional evolution of the European Union

·         methods of decision making

·         key policies of the European Union

·         the future direction of the European Union

 

 

Also including key features such as a comprehensive primary documents section, a Glossary of Terms, a Who¿s Who of key personalities, a detailed chronology, a Bibliography and Guide to Further Reading, this book is an essential guide to understanding the relevance of the European Union in the 21st century.

 

 

ALASDAIR BLAIR is Jean Monnet Chair and Reader in International Relations at Coventry University.

 

The European Union since 1945  provides a general survey of European intergration, from its emergence at the end of World War II to the negotiation of the Constitutional Treaty in 2004 and enlargement to Central and Eastern Europe.  Adopting a chronological approach, the book examines the economic and political factors that have shaped the process of European Integration, and as a consequence the transfer of power away from member states, have been primarily the result of decisions taken by the member states themselves.

Suitable for undergraduate courses on the EU taken as part of the European Studies, History, Politics, International Relations or Law degree.

Alasdair Blair is Jean Monnet Chair and Reader in International Relations at Coventry University He is the author of The Longman Companion to the EU since 1945 and Along with Anthony Forster is co-author of Britain's European Foreign Policy.

                                                                                                 

Publisher’s acknowledgements       

Author's acknowledgements                                                                              

Preface to the Second Edition                                                                                  

       Abbreviations                                                                                                             

                                                                         

       Chronology                                                                                                                 

Who’s Who

Glossary

Maps

       PART ONE: BACKGROUND                                                                                

1.     THE PROBLEM OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION                                                   

       PART TWO: ANALYSIS                                                                                         

2.     THE ROAD TO ROME: 1945–57                                                                               

       The Emergence of European Unity                                                                              

       The Hague Congress                                                                                                   

       The Coal and Steel Community                                                                                    

       The Failure of the European Defence Community                                                         

3.     CONSTRUCTING THE COMMUNITY: 1958–70                                                      

       Institutional Design                                                                                                      

       Policies and Competencies                                                                                           

       The Nationalist Backlash

       The Spirit of the Hague                                                                                               

      

4.     THE ENLARGED COMMUNITY: 1970-84                                                                

       The First Enlargement

       Britain’s Indecision                                                                                                      

       Eurosclerosis

       Transatlantic Difficulties

       Britain’s Budgetary Question                                                                                       

5.     THE TRANSFORMATION OF EUROPE: 1985-1993                                                 

       Creating the Internal Market                                                                                        

       The Single European Act                                                                                             

       The Road to 1992

       Europe’s Changing Map                                                                                              

       The Maastricht Treaty                                                                                                 

6.     BUILDING A NEW EUROPE: 1994-201nbsp;                                                              

       Enlarging the EU                                                                                                         

       Treaty of Amsterdam                                                                                                  

       Treaty of Nice                                                                                                            

       The Fifth Enlargement and Constitutional Reform

       Lisbon and Beyond                                                                                                      

       PART THREE: ASSESSMENT                                                                              

7.     THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION                                                      

       Boundaries of Europe                                                                                                  

       Nature of membership

       The future of European integration

 

       PART FOUR: DOCUMENTS                                                                                 

       Further reading                                                                                                       

      References                                                                                                                 

Index