The Government and Politics of the European Union

by Neill Nugent, Ariadna Ripoll Servent

Overview

The definitive textbook on EU politics and governance, now in its 9th edition, has been thoroughly updated to take into account the ongoing developments and evolution of the EU. Major changes, recent developments, and the crises that have befallen the union in recent times are analysed within this context.
By detailing the evolution of European integration, Nugent and Servent give the necessary historical context to their exhaustive analysis of policies, process, institutions and treaties. In this revised edition, this has grown to include new chapters that detail both diverse theoretical perspectives and inter-institutional relations. In doing so, The Government and Politics of the European Union enables students with no prior knowledge of the EU to truly master the subject.
With a new structure to increase readability, a broad range of pedagogical features - document excerpts, case studies, maps figures - and a fully developed companion website with resources for both students and lecturers, this text remains an essential for students new to EU studies.

This new edition offers:
- Updates on all main institutions, policies and processes
- Authoritative coverage of the main institutions, policies and processes of the EU
- A new chapter on theory that includes a broader and more diverse range of theoretical perspectives
- A new chapter on inter-institutional relations.
- Increased amount of visual features i.e. tables, figures, boxes, alongside new chapter summary points to aid student learning
- New companion website including a curated list of video material, multiple-choice questions, links to official sources, additional case studies and regular updates

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350336582
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/05/2026
Series:	The European Union Series
Edition description:	9th ed.
Pages:	528
Product dimensions:	7.44(w) x 9.69(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Neill Nugent is Emeritus Professor of Politics at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

PART I The Historical Evolution
2. The Deepening of the Integration Process
3. The Widening of the Integration Process

PART II Theorising the European Union
4. Grand Theories: Why Integrate
5. Middle-Range Theories: How to Integrate

PART III The Institutions and Political Actors of the European Union
6. The Commission
7. The Council
8. The European Council
9. The European Parliament
10. The EU's Courts
11. Other Institutions
12. Interest Representation
13. The Member States
14. Inter-Institutional Relations: Winners and Losers

Part IV Policies and Policy Processes of the European Union
15. EU Policies and the Policy Process
16. Regulatory Policies
17. Redistributive and Distributive Policies
18. Core State Powers
19. External Policies
20. The Budget
21. Present Realities and Future Prospects

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Neill Nugent has once again supplied us with a definitive textbook on the institutions and politics of the European Union. However it is much more than this. It is an essential reference book for both the academic and practitioner... [and] a masterful effort at explaining the inexplicable and at making the opaque transparent. (Political Studies)

The book is well organized, well researched, and clearly written. It answers almost every factual question that the undergraduate is likely to ask about the existing organizational structure of the Community, and the judgements that the author offers from time to time are invariably sound and sensible. (Government and Opposition)

Nugent manages throughout to convey the complexity of the EC system without confusing the reader. In short, it is an excellent book with which it is difficult to find fault. (West European Politics)

Editorial Reviews

In addition to being a core teaching text on the EU, the book provides a useful reference work for both academics and practitioners in the field.

European Access

Neill Nugent has once again supplied us with a definitive textbook on the institutions and politics of the European Union. . . . It is a masterful effort at explaining the inexplicable and at making the opaque transparent.

Political Studies

This is by far the best teaching text on the European Community. . . .

Journal Of Common Market Studies

Nugent manages throughout to convey the complexity of the EC system without confusing the reader. In short, it is an excellent book with which it is difficult to find fault.

West European Politics

Well organized, well researched, and clearly written. This book answers almost every factual question that the undergraduate is likely to ask about the existing organizational structure of the Community, and the judgements that the author offers from time to time are invariably sound and sensible.

Government and Opposition

Neill Nugent has once again supplied us with a definitive textbook on the institutions and politics of the European Union. However it is much more than this. It is an essential reference book for both the academic and practitioner ... [and] a masterful effort at explaining the inexplicable and at making the opaque transparent.” —Political Studies

“The book is well organized, well researched, and clearly written. It answers almost every factual question that the undergraduate is likely to ask about the existing organizational structure of the Community, and the judgements that the author offers from time to time are invariably sound and sensible.” —Government and Opposition

“Nugent manages throughout to convey the complexity of the EC system without confusing the reader. In short, it is an excellent book with which it is difficult to find fault.” —West European Politics

From the Publisher