Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction, 8th Edition

This is the must-have, leading introduction to the European Union. Offering an ideal primer on the EU's history, institutions, and politics, this concise textbook also covers the various challenges and opportunities faced by the EU, from the democratic deficit and the potential of future enlargement to the spread of nationalism and crises such as Brexit and the impact of the global pandemic. Understanding the European Union is now more crucial than ever, and this text provides a succinct but nuanced account of its development and how it works. This book will be the ideal guide for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses in political science, global affairs and European Studies. It is also a suitable starting point for anyone seeking to learn more about the EU.

“Understanding the European Union presents a comprehensive yet concise overview of the history of the European Union and its institutions, as well as the policy-making process and its politics. An excellent text for students that provides a clear introduction to the European Union without sacrificing nuance. - Steffen Blings, Utah State University, USA”

This concise, accessible and up-to-date edition of John McCormick’s excellent book is an ideal introduction for any student wanting to understand what the EU is and what it does. It puts the development of the EU in a comparative and historical perspective, and it encourages its readers to engage in debates about EU integration and how it affects the lives of its citizens. Magdalena Frennhoff Larsén, University of Westminster, UK
McCormick’s book not only delivers an excellent introduction to the main institutions and policies of the European Union. It also covers important topics usually neglected in other text books, such as the changing identity of Europe and citizens’ relationship to the Union. The book provides students with all the necessary facts and contexts they need to understand the European Union of today. Roman Senninger, Aaarhus University, Denmark
Understanding the European Union by John McCormick is an ideal introductory textbook for courses dealing with the historical development and contemporary dynamics of the European Union. It is written in a highly accessible style, particularly for undergraduate students and those with as yet limited familiarity with the EU. The reader is not overwhelmed with unnecessary details, and the book features very effective and useful tables and figures. Dirk Verheyen, Universitätsservice GmbH, Germany
Understanding the European Union is a broad-ranging but concise introduction to how the EU developed, how it works, what it is, what it does, and the challenges that it faces. The latest edition retains the qualities that make it an ideal introductory text - good level of detail, clear and logical structure, and readable form - while elaborating on some key themes to help understanding of the contemporary EU: for example, the balance between crisis management and everyday policymaking, the advantages of studying the EU from a comparativist perspective, and topical issues such as Brexit. The eight edition updates and expands the figures, boxes, tables and maps that supplement the text without distracting from it. James Headley, University of Otago, New Zealand
McCormick’s Understanding the European Union delivers exactly what its title promises: a concise yet rich, well-informed, original, accessible and refreshing introduction to the European Union that is both easy and incredibly instructive to read. An exquisite teaching resource, this latest edition includes up-to-date information as well as an expanded treatment of the crises facing the EU, Euroscepticism, the EU policy process, and the EU’s global context. More than ever, this timely textbook is a must-have for anyone interested in learning about the EU. Eva Thomann, University of Exeter, UK
McCormick’s text is the best introductory guide to the European Union on the market. It is concise and accessible enough for undergraduates but detailed enough to provide baseline knowledge for scholars. Best of all, it is regularly updated so it can both explain the EU itself while addressing the latest crises facing the European Union. Highly recommended to introduce students to the EU! - Seth Jolly, Syracuse University, USA Seth Jolly, Syracuse University, USA
Understanding the European Union has for many years been an invaluable guide for all those interested in learning about the historical roots of the EU and how it functions in the present day. This latest edition will ensure that continues to be the case at a time of great tumult in European politics. Christopher Byrne, Leeds Beckett University, UK
Steffen Blings, Utah State University, USA

John McCormick is Professor of Political Science, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA, and is author of a number of Red Globe Press's bestselling books in politics, including Comparative Government and Politics (with Rod Hague and Martin Harrop), Cases in Comparative Government and Politics Understanding the European Union and European Union Politics .

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