The History of the Idea of Europe

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the re-emergence of central Europe and moves towards monetary, economic and political union within the European Union, Europe in the 1990s is at a crossroads. This book puts the idea of Europe in its historical context, tracing it back to the ancient Greeks and their association of Europe with political freedom. The first essay shows how Europe became identified with Christendom in the fifteenth century and with "civilization" in the eighteenth, before nineteenth-century reformers and reactionaries made Europe the grounds for their different political purposes. Twentieth century developments are the focus for discussion in the last two essays. Contributors examine a number of "projects" for Europe against the background of the two world wars, considering recent trends towards political and economic integration. This volume provides also an assessment of the contemporary relevance of the European idea.