This is a course which examines the causes and historical evolution of European integration and looks analytically at the institutions and the policies of the European Union. It provides a focused examination of the political economy of European integration, highlighting the dynamic relationship between economic and political integration and the respective roles of the member states, the EU institutions, and the market. Moreover, it highlights the complexities and difficulties in constructing a European constitutional order and offers a critical examination of the process of institutional building. It provides a critical review of the main theoretical contributions to the debate on European integration, and explores the prospects for the enlarged EU in the post-communist era.