The European Union How Does It Work?

An expert team of scholars and practitioners provide a uniqe, enagaging, and current perspective on how the EU works in both theory and practice.

The fifth edition of this successful textbook reflects the ongoing changes in the EU in light of the UK's departure from the union and the aftermath of the migration and Eurozone crises.

A wealth of features throughout the text aid in student understanding. "How it really works" boxes demonstrate the workings of the EU in practice and challenge students to contrast with theoretical perspectives they encounter. Meanwhile, "Compared to what?" features examine aspects of the EU and its workings in relation to other entities, encouraging students to think laterally and critically about the reality of politics in the European Union.


The text is supported by online resources designed to make teaching and learning more effective for both students and instructors. These include:

For students:
- Multiple-choice questions
- A digital flashcard database

For registered adopters of the textbook:
- Suggested seminar questions and activities
- PowerPoint slides as a basis for lecture presentations and handouts

Daniel Kenealy, Lecturer and Director of Teaching Quality, University of Edinburgh,John Peterson, Professor of International Politics, University of Edinburgh,Richard Corbett, Member of the European Parliament, former advisor on institutional issues to the President of the European Council,

Daniel Kenealy is Lecturer and Director of Teaching Quality at the University of Edinburgh.

John Peterson is Professor of International Politics at the University of Edinburgh.

Richard Corbett is currently the Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber region, and formerly an advisor on institutional issues to the President of the European Council.

Part One: Background
1. Introduction, Daniel Kenealy, John Peterson & Richard Corbett
2. How did we get here?, Desmond Dinan
Part Two: Major Actors
3. The EU's Institutions, Richard Corbett, John Peterson & Daniel Kenealy
4. Member States, Brigid Laffan
Part Three: Policies and Policy-Making
5. Key Policies, John Peterson, Daniel Kenealy, Alberta Sbragia & Francesco Stolfi
6. How Policies are Made, Daniel Kenealy & Fiona Hayes-Renshaw
7. Democracy, Richard Corbett
Part Four: The EU and the Wider World
8. EU Expansion and Wider Europe, Ulrich Sedelmeier & Graham Avery
9. The EU as a Global Actor, John Peterson & Niklas Helwig
10. Brexit, Daniel Kenealy, John Peterson & Richard Corbett
11. Conclusion, Daniel Kenealy, John Peterson & Richard Corbett