Pathbreaking analysis of coordinated elections in twelve European nations

The Joys of Traveling to Europe Europe: the dream destination for millions of Americans each year. Whether you first dreamt of the castles (and there are so many) as a child, or whether your interest is in the history and beauty of the countries, you cannot help but be enchanted by the glory and the diversity of Europe's countries. Today, what we think of as Europe is a group of countries that are either members of the European Union (EU) or those that are not. There are 27 EU countries, but this number doesn't include well-known European countries that you might still want to visit such as the United Kingdom or Norway. We'll discuss the EU and what impact it might have on your travels later in this report. From the warmth of Greece to the coldest parts of Norway, the landscape can change dramatically in just a few moments. As you travel through the different landscapes, you may pass everything from majestic, snow-capped mountains down to the brilliant white sand beaches of Spain, Italy, and Greece. No matter what kind of vacation you are looking for, you can find it in Europe. There are other reasons to see the continent, though. The rich cultural heritage and traditions of the countries have been charming Americans for centuries. It's rather incredible to realize that what we often consider 'old' in our country is modern in comparison to what you will see in Europe. Plus, so many of the traditions that you will see today have been happening in Europe for centuries in the same way. With the combination of architecture and events, you will find it easy to imagine yourself back in time to an era where some of your ancestors may have been living and working. That ancestry may be another reason for your visit to Europe. You may want to track down some long-lost relatives that perhaps remained in Europe while your great-grandparents made the voyage and took the risk to immigrate to the United States. Even if you haven't already located these distant cousins, you might know the town that your family comes from. If you visit the town and start asking questions, you'll be amazed at how much you can learn about your family from the locals. No matter what your reasons are for visiting, you will never regret the experience. Especially if you take the time to learn about the places you will be visiting before you go. It's an unfortunate fact that Americans have a reputation for being somewhat abrasive or rude when they visit European countries because they expect things to be the same as they are at home. If you can leave those expectations at home, you'll be able to see the way things operate in Europe as a natural result of their culture and their priorities. This attitude will also give you the best chance of being able to move past the label of tourist and experience more of the 'real' country.

The quasi-federal European Union stands out as the major exception in the thinly institutionalized world of international politics. Something has led Europeans—and only Europeans—beyond the nation-state to a fundamentally new political architecture. Craig Parsons argues in A Certain Idea of Europe that this "something" was a particular set of ideas generated in Western Europe after the Second World War. In Parsons's view, today's European Union reflects the ideological (and perhaps visionary) project of an elite minority. His book traces the progressive victory of this project in France, where the battle over European institutions erupted most divisively. Drawing on archival research and extensive interviews with French policymakers, the author carefully traces a fifty-year conflict between radically different European plans. Only through aggressive leadership did the advocates of a supranational "community" Europe succeed at building the EU and binding their opponents within it. Parsons puts the causal impact of ideas, and their binding effects through institutions, at the center of his book. In so doing he presents a strong logic of "social construction"—a sharp departure from other accounts of EU history that downplay the role of ideas and ideology.

The creation of the European Union arguably ranks among the most extraordinary achievements in modern world politics. Observers disagree, however, about the reasons why European governments have chosen to co- ordinate core economic policies and surrender sovereign perogatives. This text analyzes the history of the region's movement toward economic and political union. Do these unifying steps demonstrate the pre-eminence of national security concerns, the power of federalist ideals, the skill of political entrepreneurs like Jean Monnet and Jacques Delors, or the triumph of technocratic planning? Moravcsik rejects such views. Economic interdependence has been, he maintains, the primary force compelling these democracies to move in this surprising direction. Politicians rationally pursued national economic advantage through the exploitation of asymmetrical interdependence and the manipulation of institutional commitments.

The two distinct approaches to environmental policy include direct regulation-sometimes called 'command and control' policies-and regulation by economic, or market-based incentives. This book is the first to compare the costs and outcomes of these approaches by examining realworld applications. In a unique format, paired case studies from the United States and Europe contrast direct regulation on one side of the Atlantic with an incentivebased policy on the other. For example, Germany‘s direct regulation of SO2 emissions is compared with an incentive approach in the U.S. Direct regulation of water pollution via the U.S. Clean Water Act is contrasted with Hollands incentive-based fee system. Additional studies contrast solutions for eliminating leaded gasoline and reducing nitrogen oxide emissions, CFCs, and chlorinated solvents. The cases presented in Choosing Environmental Policy were selected to allow the sharpest, most direct comparisons of direct regulation and incentive-based strategies. In practice, environmental policy is often a mix of both types of instruments. This innovative investigation will interest scholars, students, and policymakers who want more precise information as to what kind of 'blend' will yield the most effective policy. Are incentive instruments more efficient than regulatory ones? Do regulatory policies necessarily have higher administrative costs? Are incentive policies more difficult to monitor? Are firms more likely to oppose market-based instruments or traditional regulation? These are some of the important questions the authors address, often with surprising results.

This book for children (roughly 9 to 12 years old) gives an overview of Europe and explains briefly what the European Union is and how it works.--Publisher's description.

How to protect rights and limit powers in the algorithmic society? This book searches for answers in European digital constitutionalism.

Are you worried about how to pay for college? Are admissions requirements dictating your family's lives? Are you concerned about your child's job prospects after graduation? If any of these questions resonate with you, it's time to consider college in Europe. As a mother confronted by these issues, Jennifer Viemont took it upon herself to meticulously research, personally visit, and carefully consider the alternatives in continental Europe. She found over 300 accredited universities offering high-quality bachelor's degree programs taught entirely in English--no foreign language skills needed--for a fraction of what American schools charge.You'll be amazed to find that, in many cases, the cost of earning an entire bachelor's degree (including travel costs) is less than just one year of tuition at an American university. College Beyond the States details the top 13 European schools that offer: Reasonable tuition fees well below any US option Transparent and attainable admissions criteria An exceptional international student environment Informative, empowering, and hopeful, College Beyond the States is an invaluable resource for both parents and students alike, and offers an appealing way to opt out of a system that no longer works for most families.