The European Union: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) [Paperback]

John Pinder (Author)

Book Description

Series: Very Short Introductions | Publication Date: June 7, 2001

Over the past few decades, the European Union has seen many great changes. Negotiations for the accession of six new states have begun, and membership, which already covers almost all of Western Europe, will soon extend to most of Central and Eastern Europe. The Union's institutions have been reformed, and its powers may soon reach beyond the economy and the environment into the fields of foreign policy and defense. This thorough yet succinct introduction has been completely updated to take the many recent developments into account. John Pinder provides a detailed and coherent view of the evolution of the European Union, and investigates its future as Europe thrives in the new millennium.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`Even a quick flick through to look at the pictures is illuminating' Independent Weekend Review,26/05/01

About the Author

John Pinder is Professor at the College of Europe and Chairman of the Federal Trust, London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192853759
• ISBN-13: 978-0192853752
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,736,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Merits of an Introduction, December 7, 2001

By 

Mariano Castañeira (Madrid, Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The European Union: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

It is a good book. If you are looking for an introduction without getting into long theoretical discussions. The merit of this book is its simplicity. It tells the story of the European Union without leaving any of the main topics out. It reads easily. Has a few very useful charts and photographs. Its up to date, year 2001; I could not find another book that would bring the reader up to the launching of the Euro! The only reason it does not get five stars is that it is only a short introductory study and as a consequence it lacks depths, otherwise its a great book!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good intro for an Anglo-based audience, May 8, 2004

By 

James V. Holton "The Ecclectic Professor" (Lakeland, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The European Union: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

Pinder does a good job at taking a complex subject and distilling it to its essential elements. It won't surprise readers of this publisher that the author's perspective is almost entirely British. The author is also very favorably disposed toward the EU and does not provide "equal time" for the other side. That is his prerogative, of course, but it does not detract from the book.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Concise introduction, June 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The European Union: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

Pinder launches into this short commentary with the in-depth historical foundation of the EU's formation. This is well brought up to date with the reasons for, and the outcome of, the different recent European Treaties. This is a must for anyone - who, like me, has/had a limited understanding of an important topic. A good concise introduction.