With post-communist states applying to join the European Union, this book examines the challenges of Eastern enlargement, focusing on international relations, European institutions, economics of integration, and domestic politics.

As the European Union opens negotiations on membership with five of the ten post-communist states who have applied, this book looks at some of the challenges presented by Eastern enlargement - not only to existing member states and European institutions, but also to the Central and Eastern European countries themselves. The approach is interdisciplinary, and brings together contributions from academic specialists on security and international relations; European institutions; the economics of european integration; and the domestic politics of Central and Eastern Europe. The book has been structured to provide a clear and comprehensive introduction to the topic for students taking a range of courses, including European integration, the politics of post-communist democracies, and Europe's post-Cold war order. At the same time. it will be accessible to more general readers with an interest in European Union affairs, while presenting research to specialists in the area.