Politics in Europe, Seventh Edition introduces students to the power of the European Union as well as seven political systems—the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Russia, Poland—within a common analytical framework that enables students to conduct both single-case and cross-national analysis. Each case addresses the most relevant questions of comparative political analysis: who governs, on behalf of what values, with the collaboration of what groups, in the face of what kind of opposition, and with what socioeconomic and political consequences? Packed with captivating photos and robust country descriptions from regional specialists, the Seventh Edition enables students to think critically about these questions and make meaningful cross-national comparisons.

PrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorsIntroductionPart I: United Kingdom, Christopher J. Carman1.1 The Context of British Politics British Diversity A United Kingdom of Four Countries Stability and Change Traditional and Modern: The Political Culture of the United Kingdom Class Politics, but . . . Conservatively Liberal Policy Ideas Isolated but European1.2 Where Is the Power? British Parliamentary Government The Monarch The Prime Minister The Cabinet and Government Parliament The Civil Service The Judiciary The Rest of Government1.3 Who Has the Power? Political Parties The Party and Electoral Systems The Two Major Parties The Labour Party The Conservative Party Voting and Elections Voter Turnout Partisan Choice by Voters Pressure Groups and Corporatism Major Interest Groups Patterns of Influence1.4 How Is Power Used? The Parliamentary Process and New Policies Agenda Setting and Policy Formulation Policy Continuation: Budgeting Policymaking in Great Britain1.5 What Is the Future of British Politics? The Economy The Public Sector Who Rules Great Britain? Who Rules in Government? Continued Devolution, Breakup, or What?Part 2: France2.1 The Context of French Politics Religion and Social Class Education Revolutions, Regime Changes, and Legitimacy Crises Aspects of French Political Culture2.2 Where Is the Power? The President and the Government The Parliament The Administrative State2.3 Who Has the Power? Political Parties: Traditional "Political Families" Elections in the Fifth Republic The Future of Political Parties: Rivalries, Divisions, and Uncertainties Interest Groups 2.4 How Is Power Used? Deputies, Senators, and Decisions Bureaucratic Politics Delegating Responsibility for Decisions Conflicts Within the System2.5 What Is the Future of French Politics? Stability, Modernization, and Democracy Administration and Justice: Developments and Reforms Problems and Prospects for France The Economic Challenge: Welfare Statism and "Neoliberalism" Foreign Policy: Europe and Beyond Societal and Systemic IssuesPart 3: Germany3.1 The Context of German Politics Historical Context Geographic and Demographic Context Religion Socioeconomic Structure Education Political Attitudes3.2 Where Is the Power? Policymaking Institutions3.3 Who Has the Power? Political Parties Interest Groups The German Voter, 1949-2017 Unified Germany at the Polls, 1990-2017 Voting Behavior3.4 How Is Power Used? Semipublic Institutions The Social Security and Health Systems Federal Labor Agency How Power Was Used in the Kohl Era, 1982-1998 How Power Was Used in the Unification Process The Use of Power by Schröder's Red-Green Coalition, 1998-2002 How Power Was Used: The Grand Coalition, 2005-2009 Merkel's Second Government: The CDU-FDP Coalition, 2009-2013 How Power Was Used: Merkel's Third Term, 2013-2017 The Process of Policy Implementation3.5 What Is the Future of German Politics? Germany and the Euro Crisis The Problem of Putin's Russia Immigration Immigration and Asylum Xenophobia and Right-Wing Violence Germany's International Role Institutional Gridlock and the Federal System Putting Germany Back Together Again: The Continued Challenge of Rebuilding and Integrating the East The Economic Reconstruction of the EastPart 4: Italy4.1 The Context of Italian Politics Historical Context Socioeconomic Context Religion Education Political Culture4.2 Where Is the Power? The President: Guarantor of the Constitution and Ceremonial Chief of State The Prime Minister and the Cabinet The Parliament The Bureaucracy The Judiciary Subnational Governments4.3 Who Has the Power? Political Parties The Voters: The Electoral System and Voting Behavior Interest Groups4.4 How Is Power Used? The Multilevel Governance System in Italy Policy Formulation Policy Implementation and the Principle of Subsidiarity Policy Outputs Italy's Economic Policy, 2000-20164.5 What Is the Future of Italian Politics? Elements of Strength and Seeds of Crisis in the Italian Political System The Italian Economy: Competitiveness in an Enlarged European Market Italy and the European Union The Question of Institutional Reform An Uncertain FuturePart 5: Sweden5.1 The Context of Swedish Politics Sweden's Welfare State Long-term Social Democratic Dominance Neutrality and Internationalism Globalization and European Integration Contrasting Views of Swedish Achievements Geography, Resources, and Population Early Political Development Democratization and Industrialization Political Culture: Constants and Change5.2 Where Is the Power? The Riksdag The Prime Minister and the Cabinet The Monarch Other Institutional Actors A Consensual Democracy5.3 Who Has the Power? Political Parties Profiles of the Political Parties Sweden's Newer Parties Administrative Elites Elections Elections to the European Parliament Governments and Oppositions5.4 How Is Power Used? Policy Process Policy Outcomes Dealignment and Erosion of the Traditional Swedish Model: A Chronology Sweden and the European Union Return of the Nonsocialists to Power The 2010 and 2014 Elections: Swedish Politics Under Duress 2014 Political Crisis Restricting Immigration5.5 What Is the Future of Swedish Politics? Toward a Cash-Free Society An End to Neutrality? A "New Nordic Model"Part: Russia6.1 The Context of Russian Politics A Continent More Than a Country A Slavic People The Impact of Communist Rule Political Development and Democratization Gorbachev and Perestroika6.2 Where Is the Power? The Russian Presidency Presidential Power in Postcommunist Russia Electing the Russian President The Premier and Government The Duma and the Legislative Process6.3 Who Has the Power? Toward Competitive Politics The Political Parties Parties and Politics in Postcommunist Russia6.4 How Is Power Used? Privatizing the Economy Foreign and Security Policy The Commonwealth of Independent States and the East6.5 What Is the Future of Russian Politics? An Incomplete Democracy Human RightsPart 7: Poland7.1 The Context of Polish Politics Geographic and Historical Context Present-Day Cleavages Political Culture7.2 Where Is the Power? Politics by Trial and Error: Changing Rules With Uncertain Implications The Institutions of Power7.3 Who Has the Power? Parties and the Party System Other Political Forces at Work7.4 How Is Power Used? Three Criteria: Electoral Accountability, Policy Responsiveness, and Policy Effectiveness Explaining How Power Has Been Used7.5 What Is the Future of Polish Politics?Part: European Union8.1 The Context of European Union Politics Basic Characteristics of the European Union Origins of the European Union From the ECSC to the EEC British Responses and EFTA Further Expansion of Membership Deepening of European Integration National Wealth Levels of Economic Development International Trade The European Union as a Security Community The European Union as a Security Community8.2 Where Is the Power? Objectives and Levels of EU Competence EU Institutions The European Council and the Council of Ministers The European Council Qualified Majority Voting The European Commission The European Parliament The Court of Justice of the European Union The European Central Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Other Institutions Citizens8.3 Who Has the Power? National Governments as Actors The Councils as Actors The European Commission and "Bureaucratic Politics" European Parliament as Legislator and Watchdog Private Interests Citizen Inputs Influential Individuals8.4 How Is Power Used? The Budgetary Process: Precursor to Economic Power Revenue Recipients of EU Funds Allocation of EU Resources: An Overview Economic Power and Objectives EU Cohesion Regulatory Power and the Single Market Schengen Agreement Rules on Competition and State Aids Social Policy and the Environment The Euro Area: Achievements and Crisis Political Power: The European Union as a Global Player Relations With North America The Russian Bear and Economic Sanctions Conflict Over the Ukraine East European Partnerships Relations With China European Neighborhood Policies-Iraq, Iran, and Israel Common Foreign and Security Policy Citizenship, Freedom, Security, and Justice Antiterrorism Policy Immigration Crisis Conflict With Turkey EU Policy Assessment8.5 What Is the Future of EU Politics? Managing Economic Harmonization Pending Enlargement of the European Union The Russian Dilemma Challenges to an "Ever-Closer Union" The EU's Own Vision of Its FutureAppendix