This book investigates the mechanisms of political accountability within the European Union by examining whether citizens accurately attribute responsibility for policy outcomes to EU institutions versus national governments. Authors James Robert Tilley and Sara B. Hobolt, both established scholars in political science and European politics, utilize a combination of survey data and experimental methods to test how voters assign credit and blame. They argue that the complex, multi-level governance structure of the EU creates a 'responsibility gap' that fundamentally alters democratic accountability.

Scholars in the field of European studies frequently cite this work as a critical examination of the democratic deficit within the EU. Experts note that the text provides a rigorous empirical foundation for understanding the complexities of voter perception in a supranational political system.