Challenges and Dilemmas of European Union is a readable, informative volume for students and instructors of introductory and intermediate courses in international relations and comparative politics. Since the daily activities of the European Union cut across the comparative/IR distinction, the book will prove useful in both courses.

Caporaso is careful to begin with a detailed chapter that provides readers with important, historical, background information. He then deals with prevalent dilemmas such as the struggle between sovereign states and the thick networks provided by international institutions and international economic interdependencies, the external impact of the European Union, the political changes that have occurred due to developments in economic integration, changes in the relations between employers and workers, and changes in the nature of social democracy, or the welfare state. Caporaso also includes a discussion of the implications of the aforementioned dilemmas by providing alternative scenarios, rather than by making formidable predictions.

First, Caporaso's work on EU social policy is truly fascinating. Through the analysis of case studies, he shows that the EU has made some headway in improving social policy, but still has a long way to go. Surprisingly, this headway has been made in the legal arena through the ECJ. Caporaso demonstrates that perhaps of all the EU supra-national institutions, the ECJ has the most authority in impinging on national sovereignty, and having its decisions upheld, even though they are counter to national decisions or consensus. This is truly unique, as this authority is somewhat soft, but EU members respect it out of the fear of being perceived as "illegal," for lack of a better word.

Second, the chapter on democracy and economics is remarkable for its ease of understanding. In this chapter, Caporaso demonstrates that democracy and economics are not necessarily mutually inclusive- in that economic policy and practice are not always necessarily implemented for the benefit of the majority of EU's citizens. Instead, he demonstrates that the EU's economic policies and practices are implemented largely for trade enhancement and thus for the benefit of corporations and/or national special interest. Finally, he proves that the "gap between [economic/democratic] power balance that exists at the national level and the corresponding institutional balance at the European level is wide and shows only modest signs of closing."

Third, in the chapter on EU external relations, Caporaso very eruditely and concisely makes his point about CFSP being largely ineffectual due to qualified majority voting and national sovereignty. He points out that the EU as a whole has the capacity to form a very formidable military machine, but each member nation must concur to provide forces as well as cooperate in fields such as intelligence gathering, military industrial production, and deployment of forces. Therefore, an effective CFSP is a long way off or perhaps not foreseeable without outside prompting from a major crises or another nation such as the United States.

Furthermore, in this chapter, he illuminates the fact that national sovereignty has a large impact on social and democratic efforts at the EU level. He points out that both France and Germany have refused to sign/support agreements and resolutions that would impact negatively on their own external trade with countries, such as China. In doing this, and illuminating the problems with CFSP, he synthesizes most of his arguments in this well written chapter.

Finally, Caporaso's conclusion is exceedingly well written. He recaps all of his major arguments and spins in a minute amount of futurology when discussing "widening" vs. "deepening" of the EU and the accession of new members- especially Turkey. Caporaso's analysis, that the accession of new members, in particular a largely Islamic country such as Turkey, is a long way off, if not impossible, due to perceptions, economic costs, and required new voting criteria that would detract from Germany, France, and Great Britain- the EU's major players.

As with most well researched and written books, Caporaso's work is exceedingly difficult to negatively critique. Instead, it is much easier to articulate what one found interesting. This writer, found his analysis of Germany not supporting widening of the EU of particular note. After all, Germany opened Eastern Europe for trade during the cold war with "Ostpolitik," encouraged the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to accept new members, and was the first to recognize the independence of Slovenia and Croatia. His analysis that Germany is against any further new accessions flies in the face of what one would assume to be the converse given the above listed facts. Additionally, his chapter on democracy and economics sheds new light on the age old `adage,' that democracy, capitalism, and social responsibility go `hand-in-hand.'

In short, Caporaso's work is one of the most realistic portrayals of the dilemmas facing the EU. He demonstrates that interdependence, democracy, and economic policy are truly complex issues that both detract from and enhance the EU at the same time. Additionally, if his work was to be taken out of context of the EU, many of his findings and analysis could apply to any large democracy- such as the United States- making his book all that more powerful as it could be used as a model by which to analyze other supra-national institutions and large governments alike. Thus, his work should be required reading not only for students of Europe, but students of world politics as well.