Organized thematically rather than country-by-country, European Democracies is an introduction to the politics and governments of Western, Central, and Eastern Europe. Considering the countries of Europe from both the "supranational" level of the European Union and the "subnational" level of regions, this text employs a comparative approach to survey issues ranging from parties and policy to democratization and globalization. These issues are illustrated with in-depth examples from a variety of European countries as well as examples from politics in the United States. Throughout, Markus Crepaz and Jurg Steiner and treat Europe as a single but diverse entity and ask students what European politics can teach them about politics in their own country.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Becoming Modern in Europe and America: Different History, Different Politics Chapter 2. Political Parties Chapter 3. Parliaments: How They are Elected and How They Work Chapter 4. Cabinet Formation and Heads of State Chapter 5. Courts Chapter 6. Federalism and Referendum Chapter 7. Social Movements Chapter 8. The State and Economic Interest Groups Chapter 9. Policy Outcomes Chapter 10. The End of the Cold War Chapter 11. Transitions to Democracy Chapter 12. Nationalism and Ethnic Movements Chapter 13. Power Sharing in Deeply Divided Societies Chapter 14. The European Union Chapter 15. Globalization and European Democracies

Author Biography

Markus Crepaz is Professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia. Jurg Steiner is Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and the University of Bern.