What Is the European Union ? - Nature and Prospects

This distinctive new text provides an overview and assessment of key debates about the political character of the EU. Arguing that it is best seen as an international organization - albeit of a particularly integrated kind - Paul Magnette shows how the need to accommodate a range of state interests shapes the EU political system and assesses the implications for its democratic functioning; for institutions and policy; and for Europeanization and integration.>

List of contents

Introduction
Europeanization and its Limits
Policy-making in a Union of States
Cooperation and Conflict: The Union and its States
Competing for Leadership: Commission Vs Council
Building Compromise in a Divided Polity
Representation and Accountability: A Semi-Parliamentary Regime
In the Shadow of the Law: Politics and the Court
Politics and the People: A Fragmented Public Sphere
Participation and Citizenship: Towards a Trans-national Democracy?
Conclusion: The Union, Its Nature and Value.

About the author

PAUL MAGNETTE is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Institute for European Studies, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. He also teaches at Sciences-po, Paris, Frannce.

Product details

• Authors: Paul Magnette
• Publisher: Macmillan
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 04.08.2005
• EAN: 9781403941824
• ISBN: 978-1-4039-4182-4
• No. of pages: 240
• Dimensions: 139 mm x 215 mm x 13 mm
• Series: The European Union Series; European Union (Paperback Adul; The European Union Series; European Union; European Union (Paperback Adul
• Subjects: Education and learning > Teaching preparation > Vocational needs; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; B, European Politics, European Union, Political Science and International Studies, EU (European Union), European Union Politics