The European Union Since 1945

The European Union since 1945  provides a general survey of European integration, from its emergence at the end of World War II to 2010, including the negotiation of the Constitutional Treaty in 2004, the Lisbon Treaty of 2007, and subsequent enlargements. 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.

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,  its institutional evolution, methods of decision making, key policies and what direction it will take in the future.

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

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.