Routledge Handbook of Differentiation in the European Union

The Routledge Handbook of Differentiation in the European Union offers an essential collection of groundbreaking chapters reflecting on the causes and consequences of this complex phenomenon.With contributions from key experts in this subfield of European Studies, it will become a key volume used for those interested in learning the nuts and bolts of differentiation as a mechanism of (dis)integration in the European Union, especially in the light of Brexit. Organised around five key themes, it offers an authoritative "encyclopaedia" of differentiation and addresses questions such as: How can one define differentiation in the European Union in the light of the most recent events? Does differentiation create more challenges or opportunities for the European Union? Is Europe moving away from an "ever closer Union" and heading towards an "ever more differentiated Union", especially as leading political figures across Europe favour the use of differentiation to reconcile divergences between member states? This handbook is essential reading and an authoritative reference for scholars, students, researchers and practitioners involved in, and actively concerned about, research in the study of European integration. As European differentiation is multifaceted and involves a wide range of actors and policies, it will be of further interest to those working on countries and/or in policy areas where differentiation is an increasingly relevant feature.The Introduction and chapters 13, 21, 30, and 35 of this book is available for free in PDF format as Open Access from the individual product page at www.routledge.com. It has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

"Finally! Everything you ever wanted to know about differentiated integration, and then more. Wish I had this comprehensive handbook when I was writing my PhD on the subject in the 1990s. A wealth of well-structured, clear and accessible information on a complex subject."Alexander Stubb, Professor and Director, EUI, Florence; Former Prime Minister of Finland"Differentiation is here to stay, and at the latest Brexit has made it clear that differentiation in Europe encompasses both integration and disintegration processes. This is the core message of this timely handbook, which shows the breadth of this phenomenon in detail thanks to an impressive list of contributors. It is an excellent go-to resource for all scholars of European Studies seeking to understand the challenges of ‘unity in diversity’."Sieglinde Gstöhl, Director of Studies, College of Europe, Belgium"This handbook is an invaluable resource on differentiation—involving both integration and disintegration—in the Europe Union. Its stellar list of contributors offer a plethora of insights into the many different ways in which the EU has not only differentially integrated with regard to institutions, policy areas and territory, but also dis-integrated, as in the case of Brexit. A must-read for all those concerned with the ins-and-outs of EU integration."Vivien Schmidt, Jean Monnet Professor, Boston University, United States

Benjamin Leruth is an Assistant Professor in European Politics and Society at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands.Stefan Gänzle is Professor of Political Science and Head of the Department of Political Science and Management and a member of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, University of Agder (UiA), Norway. Jarle Trondal is a Professor at University of Agder, Department of Political Science and Management, and a Professor at University of Oslo, ARENA Centre for European Studies, Norway.