Simon Bulmer

Insightful and engaging, this is the most complete guide to the past, present, and future of the European Union. An expert author team examines in detail the theory and history behind the EU, before moving on to explore the institutions and policies at work, giving readers valuable insight into this complicated political body. Key Features: - An accessible yet thorough guide to the history, theory, institutions, and policies of the European Union, ideal for undergraduates and postgraduates studying the European Union for the first time. - An expert author team uses clear, straightforward language to ensure that students fully understand the complex functions of the EU. - Features four chapters dedicated to theory, each including a range of examples of the practical workings of the EU to help you apply theoretical perspectives to the real world of politics. New to this edition: - A new section (Part Five: Challenges and Prospects) includes a new chapter, Chapter 25, which reflects on the state of the contemporary EU following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the re-election of Donald Trump to the US presidency. - The history chapters have been re-organized, and Chapter 9 on recent crises has been updated to include developments such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. - A new history chapter, Chapter 10, considers the main historical drivers of European integration. - The theory section has been refreshed - in particular, new material in Chapter 4 on post-colonial perspectives. - The institutions chapters have been updated to reflect the European Parliament elected in 2024 and the reappointment of Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President. - The policy section includes new insight boxes throughout on contemporary themes and issues. Digital formats and resources The sixth edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats: the e-book and Politics Trove offer a mobile experience and convenient access along with self-test questions, functionality tools, navigation features and links that offer extra learning support. For more information about e-books, please visit www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/ebooks

Politics in the European Union is an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the EU. Unique in its in-depth coverage of the history of the EU, the book explores a wide range of topics including institutions and policies, making it a complete guide to understanding the complex nature of the EU. Now in its fifth edition, the text has been fully updated to include coverage of Brexit, the refugee crisis, and political developments within member states. The text is enriched with a wide range of learning features, including end of chapter questions, which are designed to stimulate critical thinking, suggested further reading, EU timelines, and illustrative figures to help students take their learning further.

Winner of the UACES Best Book Prize 2020The jury commented 'It is impossible to study or understand European integration without understanding Germany’s role and place in this. This book is therefore a must-read'. This new textbook offers a path-breaking interpretation of the role of the European Union’s most important member state: Germany. Analyzing Germany’s domestic politics, European policy, relations with partners, and the resultant expressions of power within the EU, the text addresses such key questions as whether Germany is becoming Europe’s hegemon, and if Berlin’s European policy is being constrained by its internal politics. The authors – both leading scholars in the field – situate these questions in their historical context and bring the subject up to date by considering the centrality of Germany to the liberal order of the EU over the last turbulent decade in relation to events including the Eurozone crisis and the 2017 German federal election. This is the first comprehensive and accessible guide to a fascinating relationship that considers both the German impact on the EU and the EU’s impact on Germany. This book is the ideal companion for undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying the European Union or German Politics from the perspectives of disciplines as wide ranging as Politics, European Union Studies, Area Studies, Economics, Business and History. It is also an essential resource for all those studying or practicing EU policy-making and communication.

Winner of the UACES Best Book Prize 2020 The jury commented 'It is impossible to study or understand European integration without understanding Germany’s role and place in this. This book is therefore a must-read'. This new textbook offers a path-breaking interpretation of the role of the European Union’s most important member state: Germany. Analyzing Germany’s domestic politics, European policy, relations with partners, and the resultant expressions of power within the EU, the text addresses such key questions as whether Germany is becoming Europe’s hegemon, and if Berlin’s European policy is being constrained by its internal politics. The authors – both leading scholars in the field – situate these questions in their historical context and bring the subject up to date by considering the centrality of Germany to the liberal order of the EU over the last turbulent decade in relation to events including the Eurozone crisis and the 2017 German federal election. This is the first comprehensive and accessible guide to a fascinating relationship that considers both the German impact on the EU and the EU’s impact on Germany. This book is the ideal companion for undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying the European Union or German Politics from the perspectives of disciplines as wide ranging as Politics, European Union Studies, Area Studies, Economics, Business and History. It is also an essential resource for all those studying or practicing EU policy-making and communication.

The Federal Republic of Germany’s position in the European Community had been described as one of interdependence, penetration and integration. Of the three terms this research addresses itself most directly to penetration: to the links between the German political system and policy-making at the Community level. These links operated in two directions. Thus membership for the European Community (EC) imposed certain constraints on German domestic policy-making. Although this research, first published in 1986, concentrates on the structural inter-relationship between the German political system and EC decisions, its main focus of attention is the articulation of German ‘interests’ in the EC policy process. This book will be of interest to students of politics and history.

This book explains German behaviour in the European Community in terms of domestic politics of Federal Republic, covering the period 1969-86. It includes analysis of the attitudes and the role of West German interest groups, public opinion and the legislature regarding European policy.

The Federal Republic of Germany’s position in the European Community had been described as one of interdependence, penetration and integration. Of the three terms this research addresses itself most directly to penetration: to the links between the German political system and policy-making at the Community level. These links operated in two directions. Thus membership for the European Community (EC) imposed certain constraints on German domestic policy-making. Although this research, first published in 1986, concentrates on the structural inter-relationship between the German political system and EC decisions, its main focus of attention is the articulation of German ‘interests’ in the EC policy process. This book will be of interest to students of politics and history.

Originally published in 1987, this book examines German governmental policy from 1969-1986 and explains this in terms of the political, economic and administrative dynamics of the (then) Federal Republic. The study includes analysis of the attitudes and the role of West German interest groups, political parties, public opinion, the legislature and the federal states regarding European policy. The book is based on extensive interviews as well as the authors’ familiarity with the institutions and key players involved. It will appeal to students of German politics, the EU and international relations.

This new book presents a clear conceptual framework for understanding the transfer of policy ideas between EU states, together with an empirical study of regulatory change within European utilities. Policy transfer is a new instrument for understanding EU policy-making. This volume shows how the nature of institutions, interdependence between trans-national and national jurisdictions and social systems, relate policy actors across geographical boundaries, identifying four basic types of EU policy transfer and learning:‘uploading’– how member states compete to shape the EU agenda in line with their own institutional arrangements and policy preferences ‘downloading’– how states adapt to changing EU incentives and constraints ‘socialization’ – how EU policy norms are internalized in the belief systems of domestic actors ‘information exchange’ between national actors in the course of EU interactions leading to a horizontal diffusion of policy ideas. The authors use an institutionalist perspective to show how these forms of policy transfer operate across the diverse systems of governance found across the EU. Policy Transfer in European Union Governance will be of great interest to students and scholars of European Union politics and policy, comparative public policy and political economy.

What has been the impact of the EU on UK central government? This book explores the ‘Europeanisation’ of the work of civil servants and ministers and how they engage with the EU. Drawing on fresh empirical evidence, the volume offers the first comprehensive analysis of the spreading impact of European integration across government. The study is placed in the context of political divisions over the EU but outlines the often neglected way in which the EU has transformed the business of government. It charts the process from the Macmillan government’s 1961 application to join the European Communities through to the end of Blair’s premiership. The book examines the character and timing of responses across government, covering the core government departments and also those more recently affected, such as the Ministry of Defence. The authors argue that central government has organized itself efficiently to deal with the demands of EU membership despite the often controversial party political divisions over Europe. However, in placing their findings in comparative context they conclude that the effectiveness of UK governments in the EU has been less striking.

What has been the impact of the EU on UK central government? This book explores the ‘Europeanisation’ of the work of civil servants and ministers and how they engage with the EU. Drawing on fresh empirical evidence, the volume offers the first comprehensive analysis of the spreading impact of European integration across government. The study is placed in the context of political divisions over the EU but outlines the often neglected way in which the EU has transformed the business of government. It charts the process from the Macmillan government’s 1961 application to join the European Communities through to the end of Blair’s premiership. The book examines the character and timing of responses across government, covering the core government departments and also those more recently affected, such as the Ministry of Defence. The authors argue that central government has organized itself efficiently to deal with the demands of EU membership despite the often controversial party political divisions over Europe. However, in placing their findings in comparative context they conclude that the effectiveness of UK governments in the EU has been less striking.

This new book presents a clear conceptual framework for understanding the transfer of policy ideas between EU states, together with an empirical study of regulatory change within European utilities. Policy transfer is a new instrument for understanding EU policy-making. This volume shows how the nature of institutions, interdependence between trans-national and national jurisdictions and social systems, relate policy actors across geographical boundaries, identifying four basic types of EU policy transfer and learning:‘uploading’– how member states compete to shape the EU agenda in line with their own institutional arrangements and policy preferences ‘downloading’– how states adapt to changing EU incentives and constraints ‘socialization’ – how EU policy norms are internalized in the belief systems of domestic actors ‘information exchange’ between national actors in the course of EU interactions leading to a horizontal diffusion of policy ideas. The authors use an institutionalist perspective to show how these forms of policy transfer operate across the diverse systems of governance found across the EU. Policy Transfer in European Union Governance will be of great interest to students and scholars of European Union politics and policy, comparative public policy and political economy.

This wonderful second collection of images of Rothwell and the surrounding district revisits the life of the people of this West Yorkshire village during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, using over 200 photographs and ephemera to take the reader on a nostalgic journey into the area's past. The ancient village of Rothwell dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, and was also an important administrative centre for the 'Honour of Pontefract' during the medieval times. The hunting park at Rothwell was well known to the kings of England - King John came to hunt in the thirteenth century, as did Edward III in the fourteenth century. Local folklore says that the great John of Gaunt killed the last wild boar in the are in the last years of his life. Around Rothwell: Volume Two is an important pictorial record of this intriguing area of West Yorkshire, which will delight those who know the area as it is today and evoke memories of a bygone age for those who have lived there.

The way Germany engages with the other states of the EU is often oversimplified and misunderstood. This book offers a nuanced analysis of the German role in the EU, using a novel approach which identifies German influence in the EU in terms of "soft" power. Rather than pursuing interests at the expense of other states, this book focuses on the creation of a "milieu" of multilateral cooperation in which Germany's diplomatic interests can flourish.

Around Rothwell