Overview

This is the fully updated 2nd edition of the leading textbook on the history and evolution of the European Union, written by a leading authority, and highly successful textbook author, in a clear, entertaining and accessible style. Dinan tells the story of European integration from its modern origins in the 1940s to the challenges of the Eurozone crisis. Organized chronologically with each chapter broadly covering a decade, a thematic introduction and concluding chapter draw out key issues and themes and assess rival interpretations. Dinan begins at the EU's modern origins post-WWII, through its gradual enlargement, to the recent challenges of the Eurozone crisis and Euroscepticism. This is a comprehensive introduction to the underlying ideals, political dynamics, economic forces, and personal efforts that shaped the original European Communities and how that led to the development of the EU today. Particular historical interpretations are analysed impartially by evaluating the main theories in turn, and offering the author’s own analysis. New material on the historiography informs students how to navigate historical interpretations and conduct their own research. This textbook assumes no underlying knowledge, and aims to be accessible to students of various disciplines. The text is written clearly, with minimal jargon and abbreviations, and includes extra resources such as timelines and relevant lists. The book is an essential introductory text for students of the EU, as well as companion for all students continuing further in their studies.

Full Product Details

9781137436443

Table of Contents

Reviews

"Reviews of the first edition: ""A fascinating account that is not dull and dry, but rather full of idealism, bureaucratic intrigue, personalities and political entrepreneurs, ideological struggles, and fluctuating international complexities and environments. Dinan masterfully brings these all together to provide an excellent treatment of the European Community's and later the European Union's institutional and policy development."" - Peter H. Loedel, EUSA Review ""A worthy addition to the still relatively few books covering the history of the European integration project. Useful as a set text for any chronologically structured course. It is also certain to become recommended background reading for anyone who wants a quick and not-too-dry introduction to the subject."" - Michelle Cini, Times Higher Education Supplement ""A superb, eminently readable history of the European Union...The book is a gem...a good read for those of us who know the story, and an even better one for students who do not."" - Steven B. Wolinetz, International Journal ""This is a very good book...Dinan's comprehensive and readable history of European integration draws on a rich array of sources, including his own extensive EU experience. Students and scholars alike will find a new insight on every page!"" - Brent Nelsen, Furman University"

Reviews of the first edition: A fascinating account that is not dull and dry, but rather full of idealism, bureaucratic intrigue, personalities and political entrepreneurs, ideological struggles, and fluctuating international complexities and environments. Dinan masterfully brings these all together to provide an excellent treatment of the European Community's and later the European Union's institutional and policy development. - Peter H. Loedel, EUSA Review A worthy addition to the still relatively few books covering the history of the European integration project. Useful as a set text for any chronologically structured course. It is also certain to become recommended background reading for anyone who wants a quick and not-too-dry introduction to the subject. - Michelle Cini, Times Higher Education Supplement A superb, eminently readable history of the European Union...The book is a gem...a good read for those of us who know the story, and an even better one for students who do not. - Steven B. Wolinetz, International Journal This is a very good book...Dinan's comprehensive and readable history of European integration draws on a rich array of sources, including his own extensive EU experience. Students and scholars alike will find a new insight on every page! - Brent Nelsen, Furman University

Author Information

Desmond Dinan is Professor of Public Policy and Jean Monnet Chair in European Public Policy at George Mason University, USA. His numerous publications include Ever Closer Union (4th edition, Palgrave Macmillan, 2010).

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