'Liesbet Hooghe's book is a significant contribution to both the literatures on European integration and comparative public administration. It is an extremely well-researched study of the inclinations exhibited by top officials of the European Commission. The Commission provides a challenging and fascinating research subject … the book is both unique and interesting … Hooghe's sophisticated study relies on the skilful use of both qualitative and quantitative techniques … yields some very interesting results … Hooghe's study is written engagingly. Her clever use of extracts from interview notes makes this book enjoyable to read. The extracts provide a meaningful sense of the context and lead to a more complete understanding of the 'world view' of officials … this is an impressive book that deserves to be read both by EU specialists and those interested in the study of public administration in the European context.' Dionyssis G. Dimitrakopoulos, University of London

• 1. Preference formation in the European Commission; 2. Men (and women) at Europe's helm; 3. Images of Europe; 4. Beyond supranational interest; 5. Capitalism against capitalism; 6. Principal or agent; 7. Accommodating national diversity; 8. Conclusion; Appendix.

'Liesbet Hooghe's book is a significant contribution to both the literatures on European integration and comparative public administration. It is an extremely well-researched study of the inclinations exhibited by top officials of the European Commission. The Commission provides a challenging and fascinating research subject … the book is both unique and interesting … Hooghe's sophisticated study relies on the skilful use of both qualitative and quantitative techniques … yields some very interesting results … Hooghe's study is written engagingly. Her clever use of extracts from interview notes makes this book enjoyable to read. The extracts provide a meaningful sense of the context and lead to a more complete understanding of the 'world view' of officials … this is an impressive book that deserves to be read both by EU specialists and those interested in the study of public administration in the European context.' Dionyssis G. Dimitrakopoulos, University of London

• 1. Preference formation in the European Commission; 2. Men (and women) at Europe's helm; 3. Images of Europe; 4. Beyond supranational interest; 5. Capitalism against capitalism; 6. Principal or agent; 7. Accommodating national diversity; 8. Conclusion; Appendix.

'Liesbet Hooghe's book is a significant contribution to both the literatures on European integration and comparative public administration. It is an extremely well-researched study of the inclinations exhibited by top officials of the European Commission. The Commission provides a challenging and fascinating research subject … the book is both unique and interesting … Hooghe's sophisticated study relies on the skilful use of both qualitative and quantitative techniques … yields some very interesting results … Hooghe's study is written engagingly. Her clever use of extracts from interview notes makes this book enjoyable to read. The extracts provide a meaningful sense of the context and lead to a more complete understanding of the 'world view' of officials … this is an impressive book that deserves to be read both by EU specialists and those interested in the study of public administration in the European context.' Dionyssis G. Dimitrakopoulos, University of London

• 1. Preference formation in the European Commission; 2. Men (and women) at Europe's helm; 3. Images of Europe; 4. Beyond supranational interest; 5. Capitalism against capitalism; 6. Principal or agent; 7. Accommodating national diversity; 8. Conclusion; Appendix.