This is the first truly European survey of contemporary European politics and it signals the end of the division of Europe into East and West. European Politics Today examines the political experiences of nations from all across Europe and analyzes them in the context of the development of democracy. In addition to seven detailed country studies written by some of the leading authorities in the field, this book includes a concluding chapter on the European Union which addresses the transnational aspects of the European experience. Informative introductory chapters and a common framework within country studies facilitate cross-country comparison and discussion. This framework makes it possible to analyze important institutions, values, processes, and policies as they work in different European democracies. Written by an authoritative team of scholars, this is the text for the new Europe.