An unabashed supporter of the practical benefits of European integration, Dinan (public policy, George Mason U.) intends for this work to provide readers with an understanding of the birth and development of the European Union in the post-World War II era and the contemporary conduct of its institutions. With the work now in its fourth edition, he has updated the historical discussion through to 2010 and updated the chapters on institutions--on the European Commission, the European Council and Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, other institutions and bodies, and interinstitutional dynamics--and policies--on agriculture and cohesion; the internal market and monetary union; economic growth and jobs; the environment, energy, and climate change; enlargement and relations beyond the European Union; internal and external security; and EU-US relations. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)