Anis Bajrektarevic

This reader is designed to be a concise summary of the history of the European Union. Starting with the rebirth of a common European vision right after WWII, this reader will elaborate on all the vital events and treaties that have come to substantially shape the course of the European Union to the point where it is today. Due reference is devoted to the current state-of-arts of the Union too (critically, but fairly and objectively assessed). Even though the European Union considerably contributes to improved living conditions being the form and the substance for European citizens and is commonly accepted as a heavy-weight tool on the global political stage, it is yet to fully realize its capacities. The present reader does not seek to take position nor to make a case that the precise institution that came to be known as the European Union shall be exempt of criticism and questioning. Instead, the authors wish to convey an idea and an understanding of a real-life model, an essence of transnational cooperation. As such, it is objectively valuable to learn it and learn from it in order to give a chance to the widest range possible of actors to fuel the current or future discussions on multilateral cooperation possibilities world-wide, understood here as a means to join forces in solidarity and reach common goals.

How has the world's largest inland body of salty water escaped economic and political notice for so long? The Caspian Basin is an underexplored topic with scarce literature on its geomorphology, legal disputes, pipeline diplomacy, energy deposits, and environmental concerns. As such, the authors take a comprehensive approach in presenting an all-encompassing study on this unique geographical region. Readers will not only acquire basic knowledge of how Caspian states and other foreign actors interact, but also learn about related issues in the greater Eurasian/global environment, including territorial concerns, environmental issues, pipeline politics, energy reserves, and so on. Any reader who wants to familiarize themselves with this region will benefit from this book. Not only will this body of work lessen the dearth of information on this region for Caspian riparian states and other affiliated bodies, but it will also generate an altogether new expanse of scholarly conversation and international research.