as citizens feel isolated from the institutionsin Brussels and see no way to influence European leveldecisions.Taking a diagnosis and cure approach to the EU's difficulties,Simon Hix tackles these problems with distinct clarity andopen-mindedness. What the EU needs, Hix contends, is more openpolitical competition. This would promote policy innovation, fostercoalitions across the institutions, provide incentives for themedia to cover developments in Brussels, and enable citizens toidentify who governs in the EU and to take sides in policy debates.The EU is ready for this new challenge. The institutional reformssince the 1980s have transformed the EU into a more competitivepolity, and political battles and coalitions are developing insideand between the European Parliament, the Council, and theCommission.This emerging politics should be more central to the Brusselspolicy process, with clearer coalitions and identifiable winnersand losers, at least in the short term. The risks are low becausethe EU has multiple checks-and-balances. Yet, the potentialbenefits are high, as more open politics could enable the EU toovercome policy gridlock, rebuild public support, and reduce thedemocratic deficit. This indispensable book will be of greatinterest to students of the European politics, scholars, policymakers and anyone concerned with the future of the European Union.

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