The European Union: A Citizen's Guide

Chris Bickerton

Penguin Books, 2016 - European Union countries - 269 pages

The essential Pelican introduction to the European Union--its history, its politics, and its role today. For most of us today, "Europe" refers to the European Union. At the center of a seemingly never-ending crisis, the EU remains a black box, closed to public understanding. Is it a state? An empire? Is Europe ruled by Germany or by European bureaucrats? Does a single European economy exist after all these years of economic integration? And should the EU have been awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2012? Critics tell us the EU undermines democracy. Are they right? In this provocative volume, political scientist Chris Bickerton provides an answer to all these key questions and more at a time when understanding what the EU is and what it does is more important than ever before.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - stillatim - LibraryThing

It's rare that a book is both a solid, clear introduction to a complicated topic, and a good intervention in current arguments about that topic. Bickerton manages it here. It's not deep, because it's ...

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - M.J.Meeuwsen - LibraryThing

Excellent description of the European Union.

About the author

Chris Bickerton is a University Lecturer in politics at the Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge, and a Fellow in politics at Queens' College, Cambridge. He has previously taught at Oxford, University of Amsterdam, and Sciences Po in Paris. His books include European Integration, and he writes frequently for the international media. He has been writing regularly for Le Monde Diplomatique since 2006.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The European Union: A Citizen's Guide; Volume 11 of A Pelican introduction; Pelican Bks
• Author: Chris Bickerton
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Penguin Books, 2016
• ISBN: 0141983094, 9780141983097
• Length: 269 pages