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Steyger, Elies. Europe and its Members. A Constitutional Approach. Aldershot, UK/Brookfield, USA: Dartmouth Publishing Company, 1995. Pp. xi. 145. Index. $59.95.

Europe and its Members: A Constitutional Approach has a most tantalizing set of chapter titles: The F Word; Grabbing for Power; Drawing the Battle Lines; Nailing the Caskets and Destiny Unknown. But behind most of them is a rather straightforward, often thin, legalistic description of the most well known elements of the Community legal order which have over the years been characterized as "constitutional" - direct effect, supremacy, the question of competences (a good chapter!) et cetera. Given its ambitions, the book is woefully under-researched, shorn of theory and evidently oblivious to a rich and growing literature which understands constitutionalism in its broad political, social and economic context. Even the finest baker must allow his dough to rise. The author was in too great a rush to print what should have been a longer project of research and" reflection. It is a pity because the mind behind this text is most creative and original as evidenced by, e.g., some soaring passages on the State, peoplehood, history and culture in the final chapter. It is always a pity to witness wasted talent.

JHHW

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