Contributor(s): Dr Chris Bickerton | For most of us today, 'Europe' refers to the European Union. At the centre of a seemingly never-ending crisis, the EU remains a black box, closed to public understanding. Is it a state? An empire? Is Europe ruled by Germany or by European bureaucrats? Does a single European economy exist after all these years of economic integration? And should the EU have been awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2012? Critics tell us the EU undermines democracy. Are they right? In this talk political scientist Chris Bickerton will discuss his new book, The European Union: A Citizen's Guide, which aims to provide an answer to all these key questions and more at a time when understanding what the EU is and what it does is more important than ever before. Chris Bickerton (@cjbickerton) is a University Lecturer in politics at the Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge, and a Fellow in politics at Queens' College, Cambridge. He has previously taught at Oxford, University of Amsterdam, and Sciences Po in Paris. His books include European Integration (2012) and he writes regularly for Le Monde Diplomatique. Julian Hoerner (@JulianMHoerner) is LSE Fellow in EU Politics at the European Institute. His research interests include the role of national parliaments in the European Union, Eurosceptic parties and the internal coordination of EU policies in the member states.