Integration and Co-operation in Europe (The Routledge/University Association for Contemporary European Studies Series)

How will the institutions of Western Europe cope with the massive shift in the political and economic balance which will follow the collapse of communism? Although they may strive towards integration and cooperation, national interests may lead to political fragmentation.

Integration and Co-operation in Europe examines the process of integration in Europe, and places this theme in its political, social, and economic context. During the post-war period, a number of institutions and structures were created to foster political, social, and economic cooperation and integration in Western Europe. With the end of the cold war, the political and economic conditions which shaped these organizations have undergone massive transformation.

In this timely and informative study, Brigid Laffan explains the evolution and extent of European integration, analyzing the effectiveness of collaboration in areas ranging from industrial development to international relations. She considers the particular problems which are likely to result for the existing organizations in the face of new political demands from the East.