A major new textbook on the politics of the European Union, which presents the EU as an emerging 'political system', in which the government, policies and the politics of the system are inextricably linked. The book will make an important contribution to the way the EU is analysed, studied and taught as it provides both comprehensive coverage of all aspects of EU politics and a new way of conceptualising the EU, integrating a much wider range of theoretical and empirical material.

'Hix's admirably lucid exposition melds state-of-the-art theory and rich empirical detail into what is likely to become the leading text on how the European Union's everyday political process actually works. More than any other, this challenging work reconnects teaching and research on European integration.' - Andrew Moravcsik, Harvard University

'This volume has a rare combination of virtues: accessible for students and required reading for EU scholars, it provides a convincing and fascinating overview of the European Union as a living political system.' Gary Marks, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

'The best textbook on the European Union to date. Period.' - George Tsebelis, UCLA
'...offers a coherent, concise and theoretically-guided introduction to the institutions, workings and policies of the European Union, with current research particularly emphasized in the chapters on electoral and party of the behaviour. Thus, The Political System of the European Union will be a valuable companion to more descriptive accounts of the EU and certainly provides a reference point for further theoretical discussion, including at a graduate level.' - Jonny Trapp Steffensen, ECSA Review

'Simon Hix has produced a book which does many things and does them well. [It] offers both a valuable tool box for the study of the EU and a very up to date and stimulating set of blueprints to help us use them.' - Clive H. Church, Political Studies

INTRODUCTION: Explaining the EU Political System
PART I: GOVERNMENT
Executive Politics
Legislative Politics
Judicial Politics
PART II: POLITICS
Public Opinion and Political Cleavages
Parties, Elections and EU Democracy
Interest Representation
PART III: POLICY-MAKING
Regulation of the Single Market
Redistributive Policies
Economic and Monetary Union
Citizen Freedom and Security Policies
Global Policies
CONCLUSION: Rethinking the European Union
Appendix: Decision-Making Procedures of the European Union
Bibliography
Index

SIMON HIX is Reader in European Union Politics, London School of Economics and Political Science.