Is Europe on the verge of collapse? For many decades, this question seemed to be a completely unfathomable one. The EU was a successful project. Failure seemed out of the question.
Today it’s a different story. After the start of the big financial crisis in 2008 and following the dramatic electoral victories for anti-European populists in the European elections and foreign policy shockwaves in the Ukraine, nothing is as it once was. The risk of failure for the European unification process has become very real, particularly in light of the fact that the governments of many EU countries are deferring to the skepticism prevalent in their own electorate and shying away from taking bold steps toward a united, democratic Europe. This, unfortunately, also includes the German and French governments, despite their unique responsibility to preserve a democratically united Europe.
In his book, Joschka Fischer, who was closely involved in the European unification process as foreign minister of the red-green coalition from 1998 to 2005, analyses the reasons behind the various crises and political stagnation facing Europe, all of which could have a devastating impact on security, democracy and prosperity in the region. And as a staunch supporter of a unified Europe, he develops surprising and strategic ideas for reviving the European integration process and reforming the EU.
