The emergence of the European Union has become one of the defining events of the late twentieth century, changing the way Europeans relate to each other and the way the rest of the world relates to Europe. Already an economic superpower, the EU is now building the foundations of political union among its fifteen member states.This new text provides a valuable introduction to the institutions and policies of the EU. Clear and succinct, The European Union: Politics and Policies is the first text of its kind written specifically for U.S. students and the first to take account of the 1995 enlargement. Combining description and analysis, the author provides an accessible guide to a phenomenon that is complex and ever changing and that has growing significance for Europeans and Americans alike. Read Less