Organized thematically rather than country-by-country, European Democracies is an introduction to the politics and governments of Western, Central, and Eastern Europe.

Considering the countries of Europe from both the “supranational” level of the European Union and the “subnational” level of regions, this text employs a comparative approach to survey issues ranging from parties and policy to democratization and globalization. These issues are illustrated with in-depth examples from a variety of European countries as well as examples from politics in the United States. Throughout, Markus Crepaz and Jurg Steiner treat Europe as a single but diverse entity and ask students what European politics can teach them about politics in their own country.