The European Union and Beyond

This enlightening collection of essays attempts to describe and analyze the essence of the European Union (EU). The volume honors Alberta Sbragia, a noted scholar of the EU. Much of the discussion addresses what the EU is not--the contributors make it clear that the EU is not a state or a government or an international organization; there is less discussion of what the EU actually is. The analyses range from Sbragia's conceptions of the EU as multilevel governance and not government, to comparative federalism of a sort, and to the meshing of supranationalism above the member states to intergovernmentalism among member states. . . One intriguing chapter compares four EU administrative styles (Anglo American, Napoleonic, Germanic, and Scandinavian) and reveals the difficulty of developing a uniform theoretical vision and policy. These four approaches are quite varied, and the Scandinavian administrative approach presents the most compatibility between administration and politics at both the national intergovernmental level and the supranational level. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, professionals. -- 'Choice Reviews'

This volume, dedicated to a leading European studies scholar, seeks to understand the European Union not as an international organization but as a federal system comparable to that of Germany, Canada or the US. It is packed with fresh insights into vital issues of the day, including Europe's response to the rise of China, the embattled Euro, the challenges to common citizenship, and the machinations of European politicians and bureaucrats. Underneath it all remain the power and interests of Europe's nation-states. -- Andrew Moravcsik, Princeton University

Nils Ringe is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for European Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds a Jean Monnet Chair. His research has been published by the University of Michigan Press, Oxford University Press, American Journal of Political Science, the British Journal of Political Science, European Union Politics, and the European Journal of Political Research.