State and society in Western Europe

This is a major new textbook in European politics. Comparative and up to date, it examines the problems of West European democracies in the era of the Single European Act and the Treaty of Maastricht. Allum discusses the politics of the four major Western European countries - Britain, France, Germany and Italy. He examines key institutions and developments in the light of contemporary social and political science paradigms, combining theory with empirical material. At the same time, he situates national politics within the broader context of European integration. Comparative in intent, the book is organized around themes, not countries: economy, civil society and the state. It includes chapters on the economy, social structure, political cleavages and communication, parties and groups as well as governmental institutions (executive, administration, subnational government and coercive apparatus). Each chapter is illustrated with a wealth of concrete examples. The conclusion is simply stated: 'votes count, but resources decide'. The book is intended for students of European and comparative politics, and for those concerned with the political aspects of European studies.