The political economy of integration in the European Community /

Harrop incorporates materials he used in courses in European studies at several UK universities in this good introduction to the European Economic Community. A brief historical section outlines the development of European integration since 1945 and describes the institutions that have been established to direct the operations and growth of the Community. Although this book was mainly written before publication of the 1988 Cecchini report on the economic benefits of a unified internal market (Paolo Cecchini, The European Challenge 1992: The Benefits of a Single Market, 1988), Harrop outlines the direction of developments anticipated under the terms of the Single European Act of 1986 and highlights some of the barriers that must be overcome as the process of integration is pursued; for example, the problems involved in strengthening the European monetary system over the objections of the British government are discussed in the chapter on monetary integration. A list of abbreviations is included, along with an extensive bibliography. These items should be of special assistance to general readers using the book to obtain a preliminary understanding of the ways in which European policies could impact on US economic and political interests following implementation of plans designed to remove all internal barriers to trade within the European Community as of December 31, 1992. For students majoring in international economics, European studies, and political economy. -G. T. Potter, Ramapo College of New Jersey