Brexit

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Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1108293662
Total Pages : 275 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (82 download)

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Book Synopsis Brexit by : Harold D. Clarke

Download or read book Brexit written by Harold D. Clarke and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2017-04-20 with total page 275 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In June 2016, the United Kingdom shocked the world by voting to leave the European Union. As this book reveals, the historic vote for Brexit marked the culmination of trends in domestic politics and in the UK's relationship with the EU that have been building over many years. Drawing on a wealth of survey evidence collected over more than ten years, this book explains why most people decided to ignore much of the national and international community and vote for Brexit. Drawing on past research on voting in major referendums in Europe and elsewhere, a team of leading academic experts analyse changes in the UK's party system that were catalysts for the referendum vote, including the rise of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), the dynamics of public opinion during an unforgettable and divisive referendum campaign, the factors that influenced how people voted and the likely economic and political impact of this historic decision.

Brexit and Beyond

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Author :
Publisher : UCL Press
ISBN 13 : 1787352773
Total Pages : 314 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (873 download)

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Book Synopsis Brexit and Beyond by : Benjamin Martill

Download or read book Brexit and Beyond written by Benjamin Martill and published by UCL Press. This book was released on 2018-01-29 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Brexit will have significant consequences for the country, for Europe, and for global order. And yet much discussion of Brexit in the UK has focused on the causes of the vote and on its consequences for the future of British politics. This volume examines the consequences of Brexit for the future of Europe and the European Union, adopting an explicitly regional and future-oriented perspective missing from many existing analyses. Drawing on the expertise of 28 leading scholars from a range of disciplines, Brexit and Beyond offers various different perspectives on the future of Europe, charting the likely effects of Brexit across a range of areas, including institutional relations, political economy, law and justice, foreign affairs, democratic governance, and the idea of Europe itself. Whilst the contributors offer divergent predictions for the future of Europe after Brexit, they share the same conviction that careful scholarly analysis is in need – now more than ever – if we are to understand what lies ahead for the EU. Praise for Brexit and Beyond 'a wide-ranging and thought-provoking tour through the vagaries of British exit, with the question of Europe’s fate never far from sight...Brexit is a wake-up call for the EU. How it responds is an open question—but respond it must. To better understand its options going forward you should turn to this book, which has also been made free online.' Prospect Magazine 'This book explores wonderfully well the bombshell of Brexit: is it a uniquely British phenomenon or part of a wider, existential crisis for the EU? As the tensions and complexities of the Brexit negotiations come to the fore, the collection of essays by leading scholars will prove a very valuable reference for their depth of analysis, their lucidity, and their outlining of future options.' - Kevin Featherstone, Head of the LSE European Institute, London School of Economics 'Brexit and Beyond is a must read. It moves the ongoing debate about what Brexit actually means to a whole new level. While many scholars to date have examined the reasons for the British decision to leave, the crucial question of what Brexit will mean for the future of the European project is often overlooked. No longer. Brexit and Beyond bundles the perspectives of leading scholars of European integration. By doing so, it provides a much needed scholarly guidepost for our understanding of the significance of Brexit, not only for the United Kingdom, but also for the future of the European continent.' - Catherine E. De Vries, Professor in the department of Government, University of Essex and Professor in the department of Political Science and Public Administration Free University Amsterdam 'Brexit and Beyond provides a fascinating (and comprehensive) analysis on the how and why the UK has found itself on the path to exiting the European Union. The talented cast of academic contributors is drawn from a wide variety of disciplines and areas of expertise and this provides a breadth and depth to the analysis of Brexit that is unrivalled. The volume also provides large amounts of expert-informed speculation on the future of both the EU and UK and which is both stimulating and anxiety-inducing.' -Professor Richard Whitman, Head of School, Professor of Politics and International Relations, Director of the Global Europe Centre, University of Kent

What Brexit Means for EU and UK Social Policy

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Author :
Publisher : Policy Press
ISBN 13 : 1447337158
Total Pages : 160 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (473 download)

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Book Synopsis What Brexit Means for EU and UK Social Policy by : Linda Hantrais

Download or read book What Brexit Means for EU and UK Social Policy written by Linda Hantrais and published by Policy Press. This book was released on 2019-02-06 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on a range of disciplinary, conceptual and theoretical approaches, this book analyses the complex interconnections between social policy formation and implementation in the European Union before and during the UK’s membership. It explores the issues, debates and policy challenges facing the EU at different stages in its development, and shows how the UK promoted and hampered social integration. With the UK’s decision to leave the EU as one of the greatest challenges in the EU’s history, this book seeks to understand the role played by social policy in the referendum campaign and withdrawal negotiations, and considers what Brexit means for social policy development both in the UK and across the EU.

The Role of Monarchy in Modern Democracy

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1509931023
Total Pages : 501 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (99 download)

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Book Synopsis The Role of Monarchy in Modern Democracy by : Robert Hazell

Download or read book The Role of Monarchy in Modern Democracy written by Robert Hazell and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2020-09-17 with total page 501 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How much power does a monarch really have? How much autonomy do they enjoy? Who regulates the size of the royal family, their finances, the rules of succession? These are some of the questions considered in this edited collection on the monarchies of Europe. The book is written by experts from Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK. It considers the constitutional and political role of monarchy, its powers and functions, how it is defined and regulated, the laws of succession and royal finances, relations with the media, the popularity of the monarchy and why it endures. No new political theory on this topic has been developed since Bagehot wrote about the monarchy in The English Constitution (1867). The same is true of the other European monarchies. 150 years on, with their formal powers greatly reduced, how has this ancient, hereditary institution managed to survive and what is a modern monarch's role? What theory can be derived about the role of monarchy in advanced democracies, and what lessons can the different European monarchies learn from each other? The public look to the monarchy to represent continuity, stability and tradition, but also want it to be modern, to reflect modern values and be a focus for national identity. The whole institution is shot through with contradictions, myths and misunderstandings. This book should lead to a more realistic debate about our expectations of the monarchy, its role and its future. The contributors are leading experts from all over Europe: Rudy Andeweg, Ian Bradley, Paul Bovend'Eert, Axel Calissendorff, Frank Cranmer, Robert Hazell, Olivia Hepsworth, Luc Heuschling, Helle Krunke, Bob Morris, Roger Mortimore, Lennart Nilsson, Philip Murphy, Quentin Pironnet, Bart van Poelgeest, Frank Prochaska, Charles Powell, Jean Seaton, Eivind Smith.

Bordering Two Unions

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Author :
Publisher : Policy Press
ISBN 13 : 1447346203
Total Pages : 167 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (473 download)

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Book Synopsis Bordering Two Unions by : Sylvia de Mars

Download or read book Bordering Two Unions written by Sylvia de Mars and published by Policy Press. This book was released on 2018-08-23 with total page 167 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Available Open Access under CC-BY-NC licence. How does Brexit change Northern Ireland’s system of government? Could it unravel crucial parts of Northern Ireland’s peace process? What are the wider implications of the arrangements for the Irish and UK constitutions? Northern Ireland presents some of the most difficult Brexit dilemmas. Negotiations between the UK and the EU have set out how issues like citizenship, trade, the border, human rights and constitutional questions may be resolved. But the long-term impact of Brexit isn’t clear. This thorough analysis draws upon EU, UK, Irish and international law, setting the scene for a post-Brexit Northern Ireland by showing what the future might hold.

The plan for growth

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Publisher : The Stationery Office
ISBN 13 : 9780108510533
Total Pages : 132 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (15 download)

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Book Synopsis The plan for growth by : Great Britain: H.M. Treasury

Download or read book The plan for growth written by Great Britain: H.M. Treasury and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2011-03-25 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This supporting document to Budget 2011 (HC 836, ISBN 9780102971033) sets out the Government's plan for sustainable, long-term economic growth for the UK economy. It sets out four ambitions that underpin this objective, these are: to create the most competitive tax system in the G20; to make the UK one of the best places in Europe to start, finance and grow a business; to encourage investment and exports as a route to a more balanced economy and to create a more educated workforce that is the most flexible in Europe. Growth review measures outlined in Chapter 2 cover these priority areas: planning; regulation; trade and inward investment; access to finance; competition; corporate governance; low carbon. The first phase of the review also examined eight sectors of the economy to remove the barriers to growth that affect them: advanced manufacturing; healthcare and life sciences; digital and creative industries; professional and business services; retail; construction; space; tourism.

Feeding Britain

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Author :
Publisher : Penguin UK
ISBN 13 : 0241404819
Total Pages : 608 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (414 download)

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Book Synopsis Feeding Britain by : Tim Lang

Download or read book Feeding Britain written by Tim Lang and published by Penguin UK. This book was released on 2020-03-26 with total page 608 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How does Britain get its food? Why is our current system at breaking point? How can we fix it before it is too late? British food has changed remarkably in the last half century. As we have become wealthier and more discerning, our food has Europeanized (pizza is children's favourite food) and internationalized (we eat the world's cuisines), yet our food culture remains fragmented, a mix of mass 'ultra-processed' substances alongside food as varied and good as anywhere else on the planet. This book takes stock of the UK food system: where it comes from, what we eat, its impact, fragilities and strengths. It is a book on the politics of food. It argues that the Brexit vote will force us to review our food system. Such an opportunity is sorely needed. After a brief frenzy of concern following the financial shock of 2008, the UK government has slumped once more into a vague hope that the food system will keep going on as before. Food, they said, just required a burst of agri-technology and more exports to pay for our massive imports. Feeding Britain argues that this and other approaches are short-sighted, against the public interest, and possibly even strategic folly. Setting a new course for UK food is no easy task but it is a process, this book urges, that needs to begin now. 'Tim Lang has performed a public service' Simon Jenkins, Sunday Times

Peace, Security and Defence Cooperation in Post-Brexit Europe

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Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3030124185
Total Pages : 245 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (31 download)

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Book Synopsis Peace, Security and Defence Cooperation in Post-Brexit Europe by : Cornelia-Adriana Baciu

Download or read book Peace, Security and Defence Cooperation in Post-Brexit Europe written by Cornelia-Adriana Baciu and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-03-20 with total page 245 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Highlighting the challenges and prospects of European security cooperation, this volume examines the impact of Brexit on strategic aspects of security, peace, defence and foreign policy for both the European Union and the UK. It applies theoretical and methodological approaches from international relations and security studies to analyse the causal mechanisms of security cooperation, and covers topics including innovative security technologies, defence procurement, EU-NATO relations, new capabilities frameworks (such as PESCO, EDF and EII), the role of French-German military cooperation, and the implications of Brexit for European deterrence or the Northern Ireland peace process. The findings contribute to a better understanding and management of anticipated challenges and sources of instability in post-Brexit Europe.

Brexit

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781912454204
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (542 download)

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Book Synopsis Brexit by : Ian Dunt

Download or read book Brexit written by Ian Dunt and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Britain's departure from the European Union is riddled with myth and misinformation -- yet the risks are very real. Brexit could diminish the UK's power, throw its legal system into turmoil, and lower the standard of living of 65m citizens. In this revised bestseller, Ian Dunt explains why leaving the world's largest trading bloc will leave Britain poorer and key industries like finance and pharma struggling to operate. Based on extensive interviews with trade and legal experts, Brexit: What the Hell Happens Now? is a searching exploration of Brexit shorn of the wishful thinking of its supporters in the British media and Parliament. REVIEWS Admirably brief and necessarily brutal ... Whatever your position during the referendum, you ought to read Dunt because he is willing to face uncomfortable facts. Highly recommended. -- Nick Cohen, The Spectator Compact and easily digestible. I'd encourage anyone who is confused, fascinated or frustrated by Brexit to read this book - you'll be far wiser by the end of it. -- Caroline Lucas, Co-Leader, Green Party I would strongly recommend Ian Dunt's excellent guide. Dunt has taken the extraordinary step of asking a set of experts what they think. I learnt a lot. -- Philip Collins, Prospect Author Bio IAN DUNT is a political journalist and commentator. He is editor of Politics.co.uk, has a strong social media following, and appears on the BBC, Sky and LBC. He is a cast member of the Remainiacs podcast. He swears a lot on his Twitter feed.

The UK Regional-National Economic Problem

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Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317237188
Total Pages : 577 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (172 download)

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Book Synopsis The UK Regional-National Economic Problem by : Philip McCann

Download or read book The UK Regional-National Economic Problem written by Philip McCann and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-03-10 with total page 577 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In recent years, the United Kingdom has become a more and more divided society with inequality between the regions as marked as it has ever been. In a landmark analysis of the current state of Britain’s regional development, Philip McCann utilises current statistics, examines historical trends and makes pertinent international comparisons to assess the state of the nation. The UK Regional–National Economic Problem brings attention to the highly centralised, top down governance structure that the UK deploys, and demonstrates that it is less than ideally placed to rectify these inequalities. The ‘North-South’ divide in the UK has never been greater and the rising inequalities are evident in almost all aspects of the economy including productivity, incomes, employment status and wealth. Whilst the traditional economic dominance of London and its hinterland has continued along with relative resilience in the South West of England and Scotland, in contrast the Midlands, the North of England, Northern Ireland and Wales lag behind by most measures of prosperity. This inequality is greatly limiting national economic performance and the fact that Britain has a below average standard of living by European and OECD terms has been ignored. The UK’s economic and governance inequality is unlikely to be fundamentally rebalanced by the current governance and connectivity trends, although this definitive study suggests that some areas of improvement are possible if they are well implemented. This pivotal analysis is essential reading for postgraduate students in economics and urban studies as well as researchers and policy makers in local and central government.

National Constitutions in European and Global Governance: Democracy, Rights, the Rule of Law

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Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 9462652732
Total Pages : 1522 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (626 download)

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Book Synopsis National Constitutions in European and Global Governance: Democracy, Rights, the Rule of Law by : Anneli Albi

Download or read book National Constitutions in European and Global Governance: Democracy, Rights, the Rule of Law written by Anneli Albi and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-05-29 with total page 1522 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This two-volume book, published open access, brings together leading scholars of constitutional law from twenty-nine European countries to revisit the role of national constitutions at a time when decision-making has increasingly shifted to the European and transnational level. It offers important insights into three areas. First, it explores how constitutions reflect the transfer of powers from domestic to European and global institutions. Secondly, it revisits substantive constitutional values, such as the protection of constitutional rights, the rule of law, democratic participation and constitutional review, along with constitutional court judgments that tackle the protection of these rights and values in the transnational context, e.g. with regard to the Data Retention Directive, the European Arrest Warrant, the ESM Treaty, and EU and IMF austerity measures. The responsiveness of the ECJ regarding the above rights and values, along with the standard of protection, is also assessed. Thirdly, challenges in the context of global governance in relation to judicial review, democratic control and accountability are examined. On a broader level, the contributors were also invited to reflect on what has increasingly been described as the erosion or ‘twilight’ of constitutionalism, or a shift to a thin version of the rule of law, democracy and judicial review in the context of Europeanisation and globalisation processes. The national reports are complemented by a separately published comparative study, which identifies a number of broader trends and challenges that are shared across several Member States and warrant wider discussion. The research for this publication and the comparative study were carried out within the framework of the ERC-funded project ‘The Role and Future of National Constitutions in European and Global Governance’. The book is aimed at scholars, researchers, judges and legal advisors working on the interface between national constitutional law and EU and transnational law. The extradition cases are also of interest to scholars and practitioners in the field of criminal law. Anneli Albi is Professor of European Law at the University of Kent, United Kingdom. Samo Bardutzky is Assistant Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The European Union After Brexit

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781526133656
Total Pages : 256 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (336 download)

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Book Synopsis The European Union After Brexit by : Scott L. Greer

Download or read book The European Union After Brexit written by Scott L. Greer and published by . This book was released on 2020-04-24 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume addresses the transformation of the EU during and after the process of Brexit. Covering topics such as trade, the internal market, freedom of movement, security, and social Europe, this book suggests that Brexit reorders the priorities, internal balance(s) of power, and legislation of the European Union, disrupting "ever closer union".

Turkey’s Accession to the European Union

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Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 3540881972
Total Pages : 225 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (48 download)

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Book Synopsis Turkey’s Accession to the European Union by : Constantine Arvanitopoulos

Download or read book Turkey’s Accession to the European Union written by Constantine Arvanitopoulos and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-12-28 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: European views on Turkey’s membership in the EU have been split between those in support of its full integration and those advocating a privileged partnership. To the extent that many of the latter proposals imply that Turkey will be partially integrated within Europe in certain areas, the question of Turkey’s accession is probably not about ‘if’, but about ‘how much’ integration there will be within the Union’s structures. The purpose of this book is not to offer a definitive response to this question. The book aims instead to examine the complexity of the issues pertaining to Turkey’s prospective EU membership by presenting several, often divergent, accounts of the political, security and socio-economic dimensions of the entire process. The book provides a forum for an exchange of views among distinguished scholars and researchers from different national backgrounds in order to contribute to the ongoing public discussion of Turkey’s accession. Sophisticated, informative and refreshing in its argumentation, the book provides an excellent overview of the complexities of Turkey’s accession to the EU membership. Professor Mustafa Aydin, TOBB University of Economics and Technology A refreshing view from the European periphery, an original mirror of the Union's central challenges. Professor Georges Prevelakis, University of Paris 1 – Panthéon-Sorbonne

Clean Brexit

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Publisher : Biteback Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1785902598
Total Pages : 367 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (859 download)

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Book Synopsis Clean Brexit by : Liam Halligan

Download or read book Clean Brexit written by Liam Halligan and published by Biteback Publishing. This book was released on 2018-08-16 with total page 367 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: UPDATED FOREWORD BY GISELA STUART AND UPDATED AFTERWORD BY JACOB REES-MOGG On 23 June 2016, in the biggest ever vote in British history, 17.4 million people chose to leave the EU. So what does the future now hold after this momentous decision? What will life be like in Britain after we end our European marriage? Will Brexit precipitate the doom and gloom that many predict? Drawing on years of experience at the cutting edge of economic, business and policy issues, plus extensive discussions with leading politicians and diplomats across the UK, Europe and the world, Clean Brexit answers these questions and more. Authors and economists Liam Halligan and Gerard Lyons believe great days lie ahead. Brexit is an opportunity to strike deals with the world's fastest-growing economies, boosting British trade and job prospects. Freed from the EU's regulatory stranglehold, the UK can thrive, spreading wealth throughout the whole of the country. Directly elected MPs will once again have the final say over our laws, borders, taxes and trade negotiations. Important, balanced and accessible, Clean Brexit is the ultimate guide to making a success of Britain's divorce from the EU and a source of strength for voters elsewhere in Europe who have long demanded EU reform, but have been rebuffed.

An Epistemic Theory of Democracy

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0198823452
Total Pages : 469 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (988 download)

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Book Synopsis An Epistemic Theory of Democracy by : Robert E. Goodin

Download or read book An Epistemic Theory of Democracy written by Robert E. Goodin and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2018 with total page 469 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Democracy has many attractive features. Among them is its tendency to track the truth, at least under certain idealized assumptions. That basic result has been known since 1785, when Condorcet published his famous jury theorem. But that theorem has typically been dismissed as little more than a mathematical curiosity, with assumptions too restrictive for it to apply to the real world. In An Epistemic Theory of Democracy, Goodin and Spiekermann propose different ways of interpreting voter independence and competence to make jury theorems more generally applicable. They go on to assess a wide range of familiar political practices and alternative institutional arrangements, to determine what constellation of them might most fully exploit the truth-tracking potential of majoritarian democracy. The book closes with a discussion of how epistemic democracy might be undermined, using as case studies the Trump and Brexit campaigns.

Attitudes to Immigration

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781922274137
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (741 download)

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Book Synopsis Attitudes to Immigration by : Justin Healey

Download or read book Attitudes to Immigration written by Justin Healey and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The European Union

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781693263408
Total Pages : 28 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (634 download)

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Book Synopsis The European Union by : Kristin Archick

Download or read book The European Union written by Kristin Archick and published by . This book was released on 2019-09-15 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The European Union (EU) is a political and economic partnership that represents a unique form of cooperation among sovereign countries. The EU is the latest stage in a process of integration begun after World War II, initially by six Western European countries, to foster interdependence and make another war in Europe unthinkable. The EU currently consists of 28 member states, including most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and has helped to promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity throughout the European continent. The EU has been built through a series of binding treaties. Over the years, EU member states have sought to harmonize laws and adopt common policies on an increasing number of economic, social, and political issues. EU member states share a customs union; a single market in which capital, goods, services, and people move freely; a common trade policy; and a common agricultural policy. Nineteen EU member states use a common currency (the euro), and 22 member states participate in the Schengen area of free movement in which internal border controls have been eliminated. In addition, the EU has been developing a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), which includes a Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP), and pursuing cooperation in the area of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) to forge common internal security measures. Member states work together through several EU institutions to set policy and to promote their collective interests. In recent years, however, the EU has faced a number of internal and external crises. Most notably, in a June 2016 public referendum, voters in the United Kingdom (UK) backed leaving the EU. The pending British exit from the EU (dubbed "Brexit") comes amid multiple other challenges, including the rise of populist and to some extent anti-EU political parties, concerns about democratic backsliding in some member states (including Poland and Hungary), ongoing pressures related to migration, a heightened terrorism threat, and a resurgent Russia. The United States has supported the European integration project since its inception in the 1950s as a means to prevent another catastrophic conflict on the European continent and foster democratic allies and strong trading partners. Today, the United States and the EU have a dynamic political partnership and share a huge trade and investment relationship. Despite periodic tensions in U.S.-EU relations over the years, U.S. and EU policymakers alike have viewed the partnership as serving both sides' overall strategic and economic interests. EU leaders are anxious about the Trump Administration's commitment to the EU project, the transatlantic partnership, and an open international trading system-especially amid the Administration's imposition of tariffs on EU steel and aluminum products since 2018 and the prospects of future auto tariffs. In July 2018, President Trump reportedly called the EU a "foe" on trade but the Administration subsequently sought to de-escalate U.S.-EU tensions and signaled its intention to launch new U.S.-EU trade negotiations. Concerns also linger in Brussels about the implications of the Trump Administration's "America First" foreign policy and its positions on a range of international issues, including Russia, Iran, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, climate change, and the role of multilateral institutions. This report serves as a primer on the EU. Despite the UK's vote to leave the EU, the UK remains a full member of the bloc until it officially exits the EU (which is scheduled to occur by October 31, 2019, but may be further delayed). As such, this report largely addresses the EU and its institutions as they currently exist. It also briefly describes U.S.-EU political and economic relations that may be of interest.