The European Union: A Political Sociology

The European Union is the first full-length treatment of European integration from a sociological perspective. It redirects the core concerns of political sociology away from nationally bounded societies towards a "sociology beyond societies," capable of making a valuable contribution to thinking about the nature and problems of the European Union. Within this broad objective the book concerns itself with such key issues as the relation between the EU and globalization, the nature of the EU state, and the question of whether a European society can be said to exist. Students, scholars, and sociologists interested in the history, development, and legacies of the European Union will find this to be a unique and informative text.Content: Chapter 1 Introduction: A New Approach to Studying European Integration (pages 1–14): Chapter 2 The European Union and Globalization (pages 15–45): Chapter 3 The Question of the European State (pages 46–81): Chapter 4 European Society (pages 82–123): Chapter 5 Unemployment, Social Exclusion, and Citizenship (pages 124–153): Chapter 6 Cohesion Policy and Regional Autonomy (pages 154–183): Chapter 7 Rethinking Core?Periphery Relations (pages 184–208): Chapter 8 Europe and Democracy (pages 209–236): Chapter 9 EU Enlargement (pages 237–265): Chapter 10 Conclusion (pages 267–272):