Britain joined the European Community in 1973, over twenty years after the first of the European Communities was formed. Within a year, she had established a reputation for being at odds with major Community initiatives and for taking an independent point of view.

In An Awkward Partner Stephen George surveys the policies that earned Britain this reputation, recording the role successive British governments have played in the European Community. He stresses the influence both of external circumstances and of domestic political considerations in shaping these policies and analyses some of the underlying political reasons for Britain's perceived awkwardness.

The original edition of the book was the first book-length survey to appear in English of British policy towards the European Community, and rapidly became established as the leading book in the field for students. In this substantially expanded edition, Stephen George brings his analysis up to date, examining the last years of the Thatcher premiership, the record of John Major's government, and the future prospects for Britain in the new European Union.

This new edition will continue to be invaluable to students taking courses on the European Community, comparative European politics, and public policy.