Introduction

The chapters of this book introduce students to the government and politics of five West European countries - Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden - in no order of significance except alpha- betical. They give a broad account of the sort of problems these countries face and the policies adopted to meet them. They offer a background on the substance of politics in the countries concerned and are intended, at the same time, to serve as windows on the political systems in question. Though the volume stands perfectly well by itself, it is also meant as a complementary textbook, adding an important perspective to those which give fuller accounts of political forces and government institutions. A concluding chapter provides an overview of European experience.