A major new introduction to women's political involvement and role in the liberal democratic world drawing examples from a wide range of countries to illustrate key common features and divergences. Anne Stevens not only assesses the extent of women's participation and representation in government, and in parliaments but also in grass roots politics. The central focus throughout is on the issue of whether and how gender makes a difference.

Is 'Brussels' the remote and insensitive bureaucracy of popular mythology? The 'civil service' of the European Union is little known: this book provides an accessible account of its structures and their evolution; the administrative traditions on which they draw; and the selection, training and careers, lifestyle, and ethos of EU officials.

A mandatory course for all students of English literature, literary theory and criticism looks at the nature of literature and the methods of analysing it. Students explore the answers to such questions as what is literature, how is it produced, how can it be understood, and what is its purpose? Students also look at the relationship between literature and its audience and to society.