This text treats the unification of electromagnetic and weak interactions and considers related phenomena. Firstly, the Fermi theory of beta decay is presented, followed by a discussion of parity violation, clarifying the importance of symmetries. Then the concept of a spontaneously broken gauge theory is introduced, and all necessary mathematical tools are carefully developed. The "standard model" of unified electroweak interactions is throughly discussed, including current developments. The final chapter contains an introduction to unified theories of strong and electroweak interactions.
