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.
Publisher’s acknowledgements
Author's acknowledgements
Preface to the Second Edition
Abbreviations
Chronology
Who’s Who
Glossary
Maps
PART ONE: BACKGROUND
1. THE PROBLEM OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
PART TWO: ANALYSIS
2. THE ROAD TO ROME: 1945–57
The Emergence of European Unity
The Hague Congress
The Coal and Steel Community
The Failure of the European Defence Community 3. CONSTRUCTING THE COMMUNITY: 1958–70
Institutional Design
Policies and Competencies
The Nationalist Backlash
The Spirit of the Hague
4. THE ENLARGED COMMUNITY: 1970-84
The First Enlargement
Britain’s Indecision
Eurosclerosis
Transatlantic Difficulties
Britain’s Budgetary Question
5. THE TRANSFORMATION OF EUROPE: 1985-1993
Creating the Internal Market
The Single European Act
The Road to 1992
Europe’s Changing Map
The Maastricht Treaty
6. BUILDING A NEW EUROPE: 1994-201nbsp;
Enlarging the EU
Treaty of Amsterdam
Treaty of Nice
The Fifth Enlargement and Constitutional Reform
Lisbon and Beyond
PART THREE: ASSESSMENT
7. THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
Boundaries of Europe
Nature of membership
The future of European integration
PART FOUR: DOCUMENTS
Further reading
References
Index
· A new chapter 7 entitled ‘Building a New Europe’ would provides a focus on the period since 2000, including the 2004 and 2007 enlargements and the Lisbon Treaty. The chapter also develops stronger themes analysing the nature of the European project in the 21st century.
· An expanded final chapter: ‘The Future of European Integration’, which seeks to offer different models for the future of the EU
· Greater use of diagrams and statistical information to support the material in the book.
· Now in the new Seminar Studies format, with a Timeline, Who’s Who, and expanded contemporary Documents section. This will contain new documents as well as expanding some from the previous edition.
ALASDAIR BLAIR is Professor of International Relations and Head of the Department of Historical and Social Studies at De Montfort University. He is the author of eight books, including International Politics: An Introductory Guide (2009) and Companion to the European Union (2006).