Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction [Paperback]

John McCormick (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1403944512 | ISBN-13: 978-1403944511 | Publication Date: August 11, 2005 | Edition: 3rd

John McCormick's Understanding the European Union provides a uniquely broad-ranging but concise introduction to the EU, covering in one volume all major aspects of European integration. The third edition is systematically revised and updated throughout reflecting the major changes brought about by the 2004 enlargement round. It also includes a full assessment of the EU constitution, the impact of the Euro, and much expanded coverage of EU policies and policy making.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reviews of previous editions:

"McCormick has filled one of the most glaring gaps in the EU studies literature."--John Peterson, Political Studies

"[A] very useful text.... Among hundreds ...about the phenomenon of European integration, this book stands out as one that really tackles the complexity of the economic, political and legal systems of the EU succinctly."--Giedrius Surplys, Journal of European Affairs

About the Author

John McCormick is Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science, Indiana University/Purdue University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 3rd edition (August 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403944512
• ISBN-13: 978-1403944511
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #796,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John McCormick is Jean Monnet Chair of European Union Politics at Indiana University, Indianapolis. He studied at Rhodes University in South Africa and University College London, and has a Ph.D from Indiana University. He spent eight years working in the public sector for two London-based environmental interest groups - the World Wildlife Fund, and the International Institute for Environment and Development - and was also a consultant for a number of international organizations, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN Environment Programme.

The author of twelve books and multiple book chapters and academic papers, his most recent publications include Environmental Policy in the European Union (Palgrave Macmillan, 2001), Contemporary Britain (Palgrave Macmillan, 2nd edition, 2007), The European Union: Politics and Policies (Westview, 4th edition, 2008), Understanding the European Union (Palgrave Macmillan, 4th edition, 2008), Comparative Politics in Transition (Wadsworth, 6th edition, 2009), Europeanism (Oxford University Press, 2010), and European Union Politics (Palgrave Macmillan, forthcoming 2011).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introductory book to think about the FUTURE of EUROPE!!!!!, February 22, 2006

By 

N. Furukawa - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction (Paperback)

Do you live, or are you planning to live in Europe? Then, this is a must read book.

I am very pleased that I had the chance to read this book. I have recently moved to U.K. and realized the huge impact that the EU had on each European country. You as a citizen of European Union need to understand how EU works and how it can affect your life. If you have not been following the EU development as I (I had been living outside Europe all my life), this book is a great tool to catch up. This book will guide you through the history, issues, and policies of EU which will help you understand the current situation. In the introduction and through out the book the author mentions that so many of the European people do not understand how the EU works... well, lets read this book and learn. This is an introductory book to EU and it is not difficult to read. I am a non native speaker of English but I did not have any problem understanding the content. This is a well researched book giving you up to date information with interesting data represented in figures.

Now that I have caught up with the up to date information about the EU, I am feeling very excited about the future of European Union and individual European countries (sometimes referred as "the states" of the United States of Europe). As I am studying future forecasting, this book not only helped me to understand the history and the current situations in Europe but also gave me hints and ideas about the future of Europe. With the knowledge I gained from this book, now I will understand the news better than I did before, and know what I need to look for in the development of the EU. What policies will be made to integrate the European market? Will it be "single market"? How will the EU's economic power change the balance of the world's economy? Is it going to be NO1 economic power? Cultural and political issues are more difficult to forecast... What will be identified as the culture of EU? What is the balance between the national and EU culture? Is the European Parliament (this is the only European institution that have direct influence from European voters) going to have more influence on EU policy making? Is EU heading towards federalism? The author asks "will it happen, should it happen, what form will it take, what impact will it have if it succeeds, and what impact will it have if it fails?"

I have learnt that it is important to have the right questions when you forecast about the future. This book has definitely provided me with the chance to think about questions that I should be asking for.

As I did, you will have some idea or wishes about the future of Europe by the end of the book. This is the third edition of the book, and I am sure there will be more editions to come.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A major scholarly contribution, August 21, 2008

By 

PolitixLUVR (Dubuque, IA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction (Paperback)

Having had the pleasure of studying under Dr. McCormick, I'm most pleased to find yet another stellar contribution from his scholarship on the European Union!
The author clearly and thoroughly presents the facts surrounding the EU's origins, early development, evolution, and enlargement.
Dr. McCormick remains faithful to his uniquely fact-dense style of writing. The material is presented in a readable and engaging way.
McCormick compares and contrasts the successes and shortcomings of EU politics and policies from his unique perspective as a British-born resident of the U.S.
He dispassionately explains the intricacies of the Europeanist/Atlanticist dichotomy in a manner easily grasped by EU scholars and the average reader alike.
Dr. McCormick has once again distinguished himself amongst EU scholars.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Overall Review, October 24, 2005

By 

M. Klein - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction (Paperback)

I'm currently taking a course on the EU in which the professor gave us carte blanche to purchase our own books on the EU. I was delighted to find out that this book was written by a professor who understands what and how to communicate this information to students. Plus, since the writer is a British immigrant, he could incorporate the European perspective of the EU from first-hand experience as opposed to a vicarious one. This book was very good at providing background info (without harping too much on history) and bringing the reader up-to-speed with current events as well as personal thoughts on the EU's future. Kudos to the writer. Thank you very much. Your book was very helpful. Cheers!