What is the European Union

This is a distinctive new textbook on the political dynamics of the EU which offers a refreshing alternative to the traditional history-policy-institutions model. Assuming no prior knowledge, it introduces a wide range of key debates with a central focus on how the need to accommodate a range of state interests shapes the EU political system and on the implications this has for its democratic functionality and the process of Europeanization and integration.

Paul Magnette is Director, Institut d'Ttudes europiennes, UniversitT libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.