Collective Action in the European Union addresses fundamental questions surrounding the European political economy. The impressive array of contributors ask how and why collective action is formed at the European level. They also consider whether collective action at the transnational level is driven by rational, utility maximising behaviour, or whether explanations couched in social terms are more convincing. Many of the chapters introduce fresh empirical studies, in the domains of business, the professions, consumers and environmental interests.

Aspinwall, Mark; Greenwood, Justin

1. Conceptualising Collective Action in the European Union: An Introduction 2. What Drives Associability at the European Level? The Limits of the Utilitarian Explanation 3. The EU Institutions and Collective Action: Constructing a European interest? 4. A Collective Action Problem? Danish Interest Associations and Euro Groups 5. The Changing Architecture of Big Business 6. The Professions 7. European Consumer Groups: Multiple Levels of Governance and Multiple Logics of Collective Action 8. Environmental Collective Action: Stable patterns of co-operation and issue alliances at the European level 9. Collective Attraction - The New Political Game in Brussels Bibliography.