European Politics

by Paul Kubicek

Overview

This fully updated fourth edition of European Politics expertly and accessibly surveys the history, institutions, and issues that are essential for understanding contemporary European politics.

Exploring a central question—"what is Europe?"—this book’s thematic approach helps students compare politics in individual countries and see the political big picture in the region. It examines not only countries which are (or were) in the European Union but also those eligible to join, to give students the most comprehensive picture of Europe's evolution in a globalized world.

Key updates in this edition:

• Coverage of the invasion of Ukraine and its implications on European security, foreign policy challenges including China and the Middle East, economics and COVID-19, the rise of nationalist-populist parties, refugees/migrants and multiculturalism, environmentalism and climate policy, US-European relations, and security threats emanating within Europe and beyond;
• A consolidated presentation on the European Union with fully updated data;
• Public opinion and recent election data analysis throughout.

This timely, in-depth text will be essential reading for anyone interested in European politics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781040453162
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/15/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	488

About the Author

Paul Kubicek is Professor of Political Science at Oakland University, USA.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: What is Europe?  2. Political and economic development in Western and Eastern Europe  3. Institutions and policies of the European Union  4. Parliaments and electoral systems  5. Executive authority in Europe  6. Legal structures and judicial systems  7. Political parties and elections  8. Political culture and citizen politics  9. Economic issues in Europe  10. Immigration and multi-culturalism  11. European security and foreign policy  12. Looking ahead: Possible future scenarios

Editorial Reviews

"The third edition of European Politics stands out in several ways. It is organized by themes instead of countries. The various chapters focus on the relationship between the European Union and its member states, covering East and West, and looks beyond Europe. Finally, the book deals with the major challenges European politics has been facing in the past years, including separatism, national populism, mass migration, and the COVID-19 pandemic."

Tanja A. Börzel, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.

"In this new edition of European Politics, Paul Kubicek presents an insightful and well-written overview of politics in Europe. But he goes beyond that, to address the question: As the European Union countries face the challenges of COVID-19, economic stagnation, authoritarian xenophobic politics and covert Russian intervention, is Brexit the beginning of the of the end of the European project—or can Europe relaunch itself, as it has in the past?"

Ronald F. Inglehart, University of Michigan, USA.

"A very useful and highly readable textbook on European politics."

Jeffrey Kopstein, University of California, Irvine, USA.

"Professor Kubicek's text is an ideal introduction to the complexities and contradictions of European politics. Its thematic approach encourages comparison and analysis, and the work grapples with the most timely issues facing the region. It is without a doubt the most sophisticated and student-centered work in the field."

Patrick H. O'Neil, University of Puget Sound, USA.

From the Publisher