This work analyzes the state in terms of its component parts and shows the interaction of subnational, national and supernational actors in the emerging European polity. This approach offers a view through which to assess the future course of European integration.

Examining the Present Euro-Polity with the Help of Past Theories - Philippe C Schmitter Negative and Positive Integration in the Political Economy of European Welfare States - Fritz W Scharpf Competencies, Cracks, and Conflicts - Gary Marks et al Regional Mobilization in the European Union Neo-Voluntarism - Wolfgang Streeck A New European Social Policy Regime? Social Movements and the Changing Structure of Political Opportunity in the European Union - Gary Marks and Doug McAdam Imagining the Future of the Euro-Polity with the Help of New Concepts - Philippe C Schmitter

`This book is extremely persuasive in demonstrating the value of the multi-level governance approach.... [it] shows the absurdness of theories concerned with the nation-state′s obsolescence, but, in turn, makes state-centred theories redundant and rightly so: it leads students of European history, European politics and the dynamics of European governance into an interesting and new direction′ - Journal of European Integration History `When Marks, Scharpf, Schmitter and Streeck join forces to write a book on governance in the European Union, there are good reasons to have high expectaions concerning the outcome. All four are well-known international scholars nd major contributors to the literature on European integration and governance. Few quartets would be better qualified to help bring a little more order in a field of research in deep need of new theoretical ideas and concepts, as well as data.... well worth reading. Key issues are raised, and the reader is exposed to a multitude of interesting observations, arguments and theoretical ideas.... they [the authors] have provided important building blocks for further theoretical development′ - Public Policy