The European Union Since 1945

The European Union faces a crossroads in the twenty-first century. While there is evidence of declining enthusiasm for European integration, the EU plays an increasingly vital role in tackling problems that can no longer be dealt with at member state level. In recent years, the EU has developed a stronger foreign, security and defence policy, and has had to face up to the challenges of tackling organised crime, human trafficking and drug smuggling. In this fully updated new edition, Alasdair Blair examines the economic, political, social and personal factors that have shaped the process of European integration from the end of the Second World War until the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. Written in a clear and jargon-free style, the book explores: - The context of European integration and expansion - The relations between the European Union and its member states - The institutional evolution of the European Union - Methods of decision-making - Key policies of the European Union - The future direction of the European Union Comprehensive and accessible, this book is an essential guide to understanding the relevance of the European Union in the twenty-first century.

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).

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