Federalism and European Union examines the decision to adopt EMU as a federal bargain by the European Union as designed to provide the countries of Europe with a bulwark against the volatility of the international economy. Although the precise motives of the participants varied from country to country, all were agreed that only federal like political and economic arrangements would provide a guarantee of economic and political stability. The author provides a coherent theoretical framework for understanding the decisions taken at Maastricht and later. By making comparisons with other federations, the book also examines the political and economic conditions under which federations succeed or fail. It concludes that EMU will only be politically sustainable if novel ways are found to limit centrally imposed fiscal and spending policies.

About the Author
David McKay is Professor of Government, University of Essex.

Reviews
offers a welcome contribution to the highly salient debate on the European Union as a federal system and raises significant questions about the political implications of the EMU. * Nick Sitter, West European Politics, Vol.24, No.1, Jan 2001 *
this is a useful and thought-provoking contribution to a subject from which most political scientists continue to take evasive action * Michael Burgess, Political Studies Vol 49, No 2, June 2001 *
an interesting short survey * Michael Burgess, Political Studies Vol 49, No 2, June 2001 *
a coherent theoretical framework for understanding both the origins and the political implications of the decisions taken at Maastricht. * European Access Plus/ European Access, Aug. 2000. *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198296775
Author David McKay
Format Paperback
Page Count 216
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 138mm * 13mm