A fifth edition of this book is now available.This elegantly written and comprehensive book, a true twenty-first-century enterprise, is the only work that offers a sustained and unified set of both country case studies and analysis of the European Union. The contributors, an authoritative group of Americans and Europeans, explore the new Europe—west and east—using intertwining themes of domestic politics, European integration, and European security. Each chapter provides a foundation of basic political information and explanation, enhanced by distinctive and informed perspectives on current issues.Now in its fourth edition, Europe Today presents the most up-to-date and thoughtful treatment available on the global economic crisis, security issues, U.S.-European relations, enlargement issues, and the challenges of terrorism in a European context. All existing chapters have been thoroughly revised, and completely new chapters have been added on France, Italy, Poland, the global economic crisis, economic governance, law and politics, migration, and security. Cosmopolitan in outlook, realistic in analysis, this unique text will lead readers toward a coherent view of Europe today.Contributions by: Gianfranco Baldini, Simon Duke, Eric S. Einhorn, Gabriel Goodliffe, Roberta Haar, Jonathan Hopkin, Erik Jones, R. Daniel Kelemen, John Logue, Benedicta Marzinotto, Jonathon W. Moses, Bruce Parrott, Ben Stanley, Ronald Tiersky, Saskia van Genugten, John Van Oudenaren, and Helga A. Welsh.

Product Description: The author narrates the end of the European crisis from the June 2012 European Council summit through the bailout of Cyprus. Paying particular attention to political developments in Italy, the book shows the fragility of market confidence and the waving attitudes of political elites...read more

Product Description: As another presidential election looms, the America’s role in global affairs and security has emerged as one of the campaign’s great battle lines. The struggle not just to define but also to preserve American power is no modern phenomenon: questions of intervention and projection have dominated the nation’s politics from the days of the Founding Fathers...read more

Rarely has European politics been so tumultuous or difficult to predict. The global economic crisis and subsequent recession have had a profound effect on Europe's political, economic and social landscape, as governments have been forced to cope with almost unprecedented levels of public debt. A pan-European analysis is essential for those seeking to understand contemporary trends and developments.Developments in European Politics brings together specially commissioned chapters by leading authorities to give an up-to-date and systematic analysis of European political developments – in institutions, processes and policy – at both national and regional levels. It provides wide-ranging and clear analysis of the factors influencing European politics, from the Europeanization of national politics to the broader forces of globalization, immigration, climate change and international terrorism.

Product Description: In 2009 the political and social life of Italy featured high levels of uncertainty. Lackluster economic performance was the most obvious source of anxiety, but Silvio Berlusconi's center-right coalition also had to contend with a series of sensational revelations about the prime minister's personal life as well as more troubling divisions within the coalition itself...read more

Product Description: Written in late 2004 shortly before his election as Pope Benedict XVI, Ratzinger raises serious questions about the issues facing Europe amidst the new European Union and forming of a European Constitution. Some of the main issues he raises include: How did Europe originate and what are its boundaries? Who has the right to call himself European and be admitted into the new Europe? What about the spiritual roots of Europe and the moral foundation she is founded on? Ratzinger sees the lack of focus on these fundamental questions in the forming of a new Europe as a very serious dilemma for the future of Europe, and the world...read more

Product Description: This book provides a balanced introduction to diverse political economy perspectives on different aspects of European integration, demonstrating both the importance and the potential of research in this area. The volume includes three types of chapters: broad literature reviews, narrower applications of existing arguments, and new syntheses of competing claims...read more

Product Description: This completely new replacement volume of the highly successful Developments in West European Politics adopts an entirely reconceived framework focusing centrally on the capacity, legitimacy, effectiveness and resilience of the states of Western Europe and the challenges they face at the start of the new millennium...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: The formation of an economic and monetary union among twelve of Europe's leading economies is the most exciting experiment in modern political economics. Can a single monetary policy satisfy the needs of twelve very different countries? Does the establishment of a European central bank herald the emergence of a new, more federal European Union? Will Europe's new single currency, the euro, come to rival the dollar for world leadership? Or will the euro collapse as conflicts between participating countries work to tear the European economic and monetary union apart? The Politics of Economic and Monetary Union offers surprising answers to these questions...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

The creation of an economic and monetary union (EMU) in Europe is among the most important_and controversial_developments of the 1990s. This clear and balanced book brings together economists and political scientists to explain why the creation of a European monetary union is so contentious; how the debate has affected the political determination to construct a monetary union; and how it will influence the functioning of EMU into the next century. Focusing on how economics and politics interact both in the prelude to unification and in its aftermath, the authors provide an innovative analysis of a spectrum of related issues: how EMU relates to Europe's unemployment crisis, how it will affect the process of economic adjustment, what convergence means for the performance of the member states separately, and how the member states will decide both whether to participate themselves and whom else to admit to the monetary club. (view table of contents)

Product Description: An explanation of the often complex topic of economic unification in Europe. This book provides unique insights into the impact which European monetary union (EMU) has had on each country's national agenda. It includes preparations for EMU membership in nine countries and reveals the importance of monetary mergence as a policy instrument at the national level...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: With the end of the Cold War, the nations of the world were forced to rethink their strategies of development. Disintegration or Transformation? looks at eight of the world's most highly industrialized nations, the decisions they made, and continue to make, and the reaction of the society which they govern in the face of a constantly-changing international scene...read more

Product Description: This is a story of a Viking warrior who thought there must be more to life than rape and pillage. Erick's doubts about his own lifestyle begin when he inadvertently falls in love with a rather pretty girl he has just killed. Not that he meant to kill her, you understand, but this being the legendary Age of Ragnarok killing people is rather in fashion, and mishaps are bound to occur...read more