Book Reviews Laursen, Finn, and Sophie Vanhoonacker (eds), The Ratification of the Maastricht Treaty Dordrecht, Boston, London: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers (1994) xii + 543 pages. Dfl. 245: $152; LSGIOO. The title accurately describes the content. At the centre of this volume are essays describing the ratification process in the various Member States. The quality and the emphases are uneven. In some the emphasis is more on the legal process in others on politics. All pay more or less attention to public opinion, surely the most interesting aspect of the Maastricht saga. Though none is truly long or exhaustive, some reports, like the French (by Keraudren and Dubois) and the Danish (by Laursen) are masterpieces of synthesis of complex legal and sociological data. Others are more impressionistic and bland. The annexes constitute a useful compilation of official documents, at Union and Member State level, tracing the ratification process. There is a short introductory essay on the ratification of Maastricht with a useful chronology and a superfluous essay on the content of Maastricht. It was thoughtful to include a selection of graphs from Eurobarometer but, without the data on which they are based, they are good for impressions but less so for analysis. There is an extensive bibliography. Finn Laursen's concluding essay - more than a mere synthesis less than a veritable study on process and legitimacy is the most interesting in the volume. The usual complaint about price: how, say, can the Aldershot publishing Company put out a six hundred page edited volume on Critical Legal Studies at about $40 and Nijhoff has to charge over $150 for this similar sized book is beyond my comprehension. We would gladly open our pages to any publisher who would like to explain their pricing policy. JHHW
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