| Review of: | The Europeanization of British Politics edited by I. Bache, A. Jordan |
|---|---|
| Reviewed By: | Barbara Brink |
| Reviewed in: | Journal of Common Market Studies |
| Date accepted online: | 10/04/2008 |
| Published in print: | Volume 45, Issue 05, Pages 1159-1167 |
Book Reviews
This publication provides a general overview for readers looking for an introduction in this area. The editors point out that the wide use of the term 'Europeanization' within academic literature has resulted in a 'disorderly' looking field (p. 17). In order to avoid this and to create a coherent book, all authors use the definition of Europeanization proposed by the editors. The use of one definition throughout the book and its division into three main themes shows the attempt to develop a clear introductory book covering this field.
The contributions, by both well-known and less-known scholars in this area, offer an overview of the developments in their respective field of research. By including the individual research of the contributors it tries to go beyond the 'standard textbook approach' (p. 15). However, the individual contributions demonstrate the difficulty of the concept of Europeanization. Despite the attempts of the editors to employ one definition of the term, the various authors nevertheless interpret this differently. Consequently, the book is a collection of individual chapters, collected under a common theme. This is also apparent looking at the great diversity of topics that are discussed. The discussion of European influence on central government includes very different aspects than the discussion of the Europeanization of trade unions.
Nevertheless, the chapters by the editors provide clear guidance for the reader. The introductory chapters develop the main research questions which are addressed throughout the book. The concluding chapter uses these questions to discuss all contributions, linking them by showing the differences and similarities among them. This offers a helpful tool into this extensive introduction of the main research available on the Europeanization of British politics.