(p. 1) 1. Introduction 

This volume introduces the reader to European Union politics. It traces the historical evolution of the European Community from 1945 to early 2012. and examines theoretical and conceptual approaches that have been put forward to explain European integration and EU politics. It also takes an in-depth look at various European institutions such as the European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament, and the Court of Justice. It also considers a sample of European policies, such as external economic policy, foreign policy, social policy, and policies on freedom, security, and justice. This introductory chapter explains what the EU is, why it was set up, what it does, who can join, who pays, and what role citizens play in the EU. It concludes with an overview of the chapters that follow.