The enlargement of the European Union (EU), with the accession of ten new member states, is probably the most important moment in its history. The European Union's New Democracies is carefully designed to introduce students to the politics of the post-communist states which are now part of the EU. It also explains the political systems of the states of Central and Eastern Europe within the framework of European integration. Written in an extremely clear and accessible style it: * provides comprehensive coverage of Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and...

The Black Sea region rarely hit the media headlines until the outbreak of war in Georgia in 2008, yet its importance as a focus of European Union (EU) external policy making had already been growing for several years. The area is fascinating and diverse, comprising both large and small states, with a mixture of democracies and more authoritarian regimes. Traditionally a central foreign policy concern for Russia and Turkey, since the end of the Cold War, the EU and the US have become increasingly involved in the many dimensions of Black Sea politics. This book brings together a broad range of...

Specifically designed to introduce students to the politics of the post-communist states which are now part of the EU, this text book examines the political systems of Central and Eastern European states within the framework of European integration.