The European Union: How does it work?

The European Union: How does it work? is the perfect concise introduction to the EU's structure and operations for those coming to the subject for the first time. In it, an expert team of scholars and practitioners cut through the complexity to explain the key actors, policies, and developments in the European Union and how these work in practice, equipping students with the knowledge and skills they need to properly understand this complex system.

The fifth edition of this successful textbook reflects the ongoing changes in the EU in light of the UK's departure from the union and the aftermath of the migration and Eurozone crises. It also features expanded coverage of democracy and legitimacy, highlighting this important and topical debate.

Students' understanding of the subject is aided by helpful learning features throughout the text. 'How it really works' boxes demonstrate the working of the EU in practice and challenge students to contrast this with the theoretical perspectives they encounter. Meanwhile, 'Compared to what?' features examine aspects of the EU and its workings in relation to other entities, encouraging students to think laterally and critically about the reality of politics in the European Union.


The text is also supported by online resources designed to make teaching and learning more effective for both students and instructors. These include:

For students:
- Test your understanding and receive instant feedback with a range of multiple-choice questions
- Revise key terms and test your knowledge of terminology from the book with our digital flashcard glossary

For registered adopters of the textbook:
- Guide class debate with suggested seminar questions and activities
- Adapt PowerPoint(R) slides as a basis for lecture presentations, or use as handouts in class