European Politics: A Comparative Introduction (Comparative Government and Politics) - Softcover

"This is not only the book I would like to use, it is also the book I would like to have written. It is certainly one that I will recommend to students as an introduction. Hats off to Bale for undertaking such an ambitious task."--Erik Jones, Johns Hopkins University "Engaging and thought-provoking, and covering institutions and processes at both national and EU levels, this is an excellent comparative and continent-wide introduction to politics in the new Europe."--John McCormick, Indiana University, Indianapolis",".".As with most good textbooks, it is based on years of teaching the subject and understanding what students want. Though written at a level comprehensible to undergraduate students, it manages to convey the sense of key concepts such as Europeanisation and multi level governance, and theoretical frameworks such as rational choice. It has the merit of capturing political dynamics within and beyond the "EU 25." Lucid in its analysis and extensive in its coverage, it addresses key issues of comparative politics, such as converging trends, nationally patterned variations, and comparisons across space and time. An intelligent use of concepts is interwoven with examples drawn from national cases. Bale offers a broader overview than traditional texts, with chapters on territorial politics, governance, the media, political economy, and migrants and migration, as well as the traditional staple of political parties, elections and pressure politics, governments and parliaments. Combining a clear thematic focus with national examples is a strength. Few comparative politics textbooks manage to do so, and Bale's books likely to become a leading text in comparative Europeanpolitics for years to come." --"The Times Higher,"

A major new thematically-organised introduction to the governance and politics of Europe. This text provides an accessible, up-to-date guide to both the institutions and the issues that matter in a continent where the boundaries between East and West, and between domestic and EU affairs are breaking down. Covering, but not confining itself to, a common core of countries (Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, UK), it is a concise yet comprehensive introduction to one of the world's most important and fascinating regions.