"The European Union is one of the world's most complex political systems. This concise and lively book de-mystifies it. How Does it Work? is designed to be the first book used to introduce students to the EU. It features a top-rank collection of authors and a unique blend of scholarly expertise and practitioners' experience." "How Does it Work? contrasts the EU that exists on paper - its treaties and formal rules - with how it works in practice. It compares and contrasts the Union with other political systems and international organisations. Each chapter includes guides to further reading, lists of useful web links, and discussion questions. This text answers two fundamental questions. First, a practical one: how does the EU work, and who are its main actors, processes and dynamics? Second, a rhetorical one: how has Europe managed to sustain this unprecedented experiment in international cooperation?"--BOOK JACKET