The European Union: Dilemmas of Regional Integration

Dilemmas in World Politics

by James A. Caporaso

The European Dilemmas of Regional Integration is a readable, informative volume for students and instructors of introductory and intermediate courses in international relations and comparative politics. Since the daily activities of the European Union cut across the comparative/IR distinction, the book will prove useful in both courses.Caporaso begins with a detailed chapter that provides readers with important information about the institutions and history of the European Union. In subsequent chapters he examines dilemmas such as the conflict between national sovereignty and the development of regional social policies, the external impact of the European Union (is it open or close, a force for peace or a source of conflict?), and conflicts between democratic openness and accountability on the one hand and expert decisionmaking on the other. Caporaso develops the implications of these dilemmas by place them within broader debates in comparative and international politics. It was named a Choice Outstanding Academic Book of 2001.

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

James A. Caporaso (Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania) is professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington. He is a specialist in international political economy and international relations theory. He is a past president of the International Studies Association (1997-98) and past Chair of the European Union Studies Association (1995-97). In 2003 he received an award for Distinguished International Political Economy Scholar from the International Studies Association. He has published articles in International Studies Quarterly, International Organization, American Political Science Review, Journal of European Public Policy and several other journals. He edited Comparative Political Studies until 2013. He is coauthor with David Levine of Theories of Political Economy. His current research is on political institutions and the financial crisis in comparative perspective. Caporaso enjoys teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in international relations and international political economy and mentoring graduate students.