Jonathan Olsen is professor and chair of the department of history and government at Texas Woman's University. He teaches courses in comparative politics and political theory, with a specialization in German politics and the politics of the European Union. He is a three-time Fulbright Scholar and has had visiting appointments at the University of Munster, Potsdam University, and the European University-Viadrina (Frankfurt-Oder). His books include Nature and Nationalism (Palgrave Macmillan, 1999) and (with Dan Hough and Michael Koss) The Left Party in Contemporary German Politics (Palgrave Macmillan, 2007) and Left Parties in National Governments (Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.)John McCormick is Jean Monnet professor of European Union politics at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). His teaching and research interests lie in comparative politics, with particular interests in the politics of the EU, environmental policy, and transatlantic relations. He spent the first half of 2013 as the Fulbright Chair in EU-US Relations at the College of Europe in Belgium. His other publications include European Union Politics (Palgrave Macmillan, 2nd edition, 2015) and Comparative Government and Politics (Palgrave Macmillan, 10th edition, 2016).

Covering the history, governing institutions, and policies of the European Union, Jonathan Olsen and John McCormick present the EU as one of the world's economic and political superpowers, which has brought far-reaching changes to the lives of Europeans and has helped its member states to take a newly assertive role on the global stage.

Covering the history, governing institutions, and policies of the European Union, Jonathan Olsen and John McCormick present the EU as one of the world's economic and political superpowers, which has brought far-reaching changes to the lives of Europeans and has helped its member states to take a newly assertive role on the global stage. Unlike most other books on the EU, this text pays particular attention to the implications of the EU for the United States.Thoroughly revised, with new photographs and updated tables and figures, the sixth edition of The European Union explains developments that have brought severe challenges to the Union, such as the Greek crisis, the Brexit, tensions with Russia over Ukraine, and new waves of refugees into Europe. Essential reading for students of European politics, this book offers an up-to-the-minute look at both the opportunities and existential threats facing this powerful institution.

Contents Tables and Illustrations Preface and Acknowledgments About the Authors Acronyms and Abbreviations Introduction Part I: History 1 What Is the European Union? Chapter Overview The Role of the State How Did the EU Evolve? What Has the EU Become? Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 2 Origins: The Road to Paris Chapter Overview The Taming of Europe Economic Reconstruction and the Marshall Plan Security and the Cold War Opening Moves: Coal and Steel (1950--1953) Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 3 Emergence: To the Single Market and Beyond Chapter Overview From Paris to Rome (1955--1958) Integration Takes Root (1958--1968) The Role of the United States Enlargement: Looking North and South (1960--1986) Toward Economic and Monetary Union (1969--1993) Completing the Single Market (1983--1993) Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 4 Consolidation and Crises: Maastricht, Lisbon, and the Eurozone Chapter Overview From Community to Union (1970--1993) The Euro Arrives (1995--2002) Changes to the Treaties: Amsterdam and Nice (1997--2001) Blowback from Iraq (2003--2005) More Enlargement: Looking East (1994--2013) From Lisbon to the Eurozone Crisis (2001--) Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes Part II: Institutions 5 The European Commission Chapter Overview Evolution Structure How the Commission Works Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 6 The Council of the European Union Chapter Overview Evolution Structure How the Council Works Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 7 The European Parliament Chapter Overview Evolution Structure Political Groups in the European Parliament How Parliament Works Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 8 The Court of Justice of the European Union Chapter Overview Evolution Structure Sources of European Union Law How the Court Works Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 9 The European Council, the European Central Bank, and Other Institutions Chapter Overview Evolution Structure How the Council Works Specialized Institutions and Agencies Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 10 Representing Public Opinion Chapter Overview Public Opinion in the EU Referendums European Elections Interest Groups Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes Part III: Policies 11 Public Policy and the Budget of the EU Chapter Overview The Policy Cycle Features of the Policy Process The Budget Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 12 Economic Policy and the Single Market Chapter Overview The Single Market and Europe 2020 The Euro Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 13 Cohesion, Justice and Home Affairs, and Other Internal Policies Chapter Overview Building a Level Playing Field Social Policy Justice and Home Affairs Education and Languages Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 14 Agricultural and Environmental Policy Chapter Overview Agricultural Policy Environmental Policy Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 15 The EU and the World Chapter Overview Toward a Common Foreign Policy Toward a Common Security Policy Trade Policy Developments in the Neighborhood: Eastern Europe and Russia Relations with BRIC Countries Development Cooperation Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes 16 The EU and the United States Chapter Overview The Changing International System The Transatlantic Relationship A Litany of Disputes Explaining the Differences Questions to Consider Further Reading Notes Conclusions Notes Glossary Appendix 1 Chronology of European Integration Appendix 2 Sources of Information Index

Covering the history, governing institutions, and policies of the European Union, Jonathan Olsen and John McCormick present the EU as one of the world's economic and political superpowers, which has brought far-reaching changes to the lives of Europeans and has helped its member states to take a newly assertive role on the global stage. Unlike most other books on the EU, this text pays particular attention to the implications of the EU for the United States. Thoroughly revised, with new photographs and updated tables and figures, the sixth edition of The European Union explains developments that have brought severe challenges to the Union, such as the Greek crisis, the Brexit, tensions with Russia over Ukraine, and new waves of refugees into Europe. Essential reading for students of European politics, this book offers an up-to-the-minute look at both the opportunities and existential threats facing this powerful institution.