Pandemonium : saving Europe

A gripping account of European resilience, Pandemonium is a clarion call for unity and coherence. The book provides a realistic and much needed antidote to the persistent gloom clouding the Union's future. Offering an illuminating mix of analysis and history to demonstrate the catalyzing effect of the pandemic's aftershocks, Luuk van Middelaar reveals with electrifying clarity the urgency for EU strategic autonomy in a post-Pax Americana world.Gripping, dramatic and often epic, Luuk van Middelaar views the pandemic with the eyes of a political anatomist, dissecting the moment when political order is created out of the chaos and tragedy of life. Is the pandemic a new beginning? Written by one of the world's foremost experts on European politics, this is one of the first books to raise this question in the serious manner that it deserves.Luuk van Middelaar continues the analysis of the European Union's twenty-first-century crises that he began in his excellent Alarums and Excursions with this sharp-eyed and optimistic first take on the EU's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.This wonderful book offers an original, penetrating and compelling account of why the pandemic has forged a sense of common destiny rather than disintegration among Europeans. It cements Luuk van Middelaar's reputation as the leading theorist and most gripping chronicler of our continent's improbable but inspiring 'passage to Europe' through crisis management rather than federalist blueprints. Packed with insight and sparkling with ideas, it is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the tough choices Europeans must make to preserve their liberty, prosperity and power in the face of geopolitical competition. "Over the past decade the European Union has faced threats to its currency, borders and unity. Covid-19, which began its inexorable spread across Europe in February 2020, is the latest crisis to test the Union's resilience. Luuk van Middelaar's compelling analysis of the EU's response to the pandemic details how events and decisions unfolded, how crisis solutions were improvised in a situation of deep uncertainty, and the lessons it must learn if it is to continue to protect its citizens. As member states shut their borders and scrambled for supplies, the European Union at first appeared irrelevant. But once shaken from its torpor by a public cry for help, the EU has coordinated a formidable response to the chaos, including an unprecedented level of financial assistance. This reaction, argues van Middelaar, demonstrates the Union's enduring strength and how it has learnt to deal with real world events. Indeed, the EU's response to the pandemic reveals how far it has come on its journey from regulatory body to geopolitical actor. The pandemic highlighted that Europe's next challenge will most likely come from its uneasy position between a strategically assertive China and a more self-centred United States. Facing this will require a greater political will than that mustered in the health emergency. To become a true power among powers, Van Middelaar contends, Europe must give firmer political shape to its own historical and cultural identity. Pandemonium cements Luuk van Middelaar's position as one of the most insightful commentators on EU politics. His powerful analysis will be welcomed by anyone seeking to understand Europe's dynamics and changing geopolitical role."-- Provided by publisher Over the past decade the European Union has faced threats to its currency, borders and unity. Covid-19, which began its inexorable spread across Europe in February 2020, is the latest crisis to test the Union's resilience.0Luuk van Middelaar's compelling analysis of the EU's response to the pandemic details how events and decisions unfolded, how crisis solutions were improvised in a situation of deep uncertainty, and the lessons it must learn if it is to continue to protect its citizens.0As member states shut their borders and scrambled for supplies, the European Union at first appeared irrelevant. But once shaken from its torpor by a public cry for help, the EU has coordinated a formidable response to the chaos, including an unprecedented level of financial assistance. This reaction, argues van Middelaar, demonstrates the Union's enduring strength and how it has learnt to deal with real world events. Indeed, the EU's response to the pandemic reveals how far it has come on its journey from regulatory body to geopolitical actor.0The pandemic highlighted that Europe's next challenge will most likely come from its uneasy position between a strategically assertive China and a more self-centred United States. Facing this will require a greater political will than that mustered in the health emergency. To become a true power among powers, Van Middelaar contends, Europe must give firmer political shape to its own historical and cultural identity.0Pandemonium cements Luuk van Middelaar's position as one of the most insightful commentators on EU politics. His powerful analysis will be welcomed by anyone seeking to understand Europe's dynamics and changing geopolitical role "In February 2020, Covid-19 began its inexorable spread across Europe. The long-feared global pandemic ran amok as the world's wealthiest, but woefully unprepared, medical system struggled to cope with the sheer scale of the emergency. EU member states chaotically shut their borders and scrambled for supplies instead of cooperating and helping each other. The European Union suddenly appeared irrelevant as it fell silent and public bitterness and despair took hold, while governments flailed and the death toll mounted. And yet, once shaken from its torpor, the EU did act with financial assistance and in coordinating a response to the chaos. The last decade has seen the EU beset by crisis: the eurozone storm, the refugee tragedy and the Brexit debacle. The pandemic presented yet another threat to its existence. Luuk Van Middelaar's incisive analysis of Europe's resilience demonstrates just how far the EU has come in its development from a regulatory body to a political entity and how it has been shaped by the politics of crisis. If the EU is to thrive and to protect its citizens, it must learn now to be a geopolitical actor and anticipate the action rather than simply react to it." -- Fourni par l'éditeur In February 2020, Covid-19 began its inexorable spread across Europe. The long-feared global pandemic ran amok as the world's wealthiest, but woefully unprepared, medical system struggled to cope with the sheer scale of the emergency. EU member states chaotically shut their borders and scrambled for supplies instead of cooperating and helping each other. The European Union suddenly appeared irrelevant as it fell silent and public bitterness and despair took hold, while governments flailed and the death toll mounted. And yet, once shaken from its torpor, the EU did act with financial assistance and in coordinating a response to the chaos. The last decade has seen the EU beset by crisis: the eurozone storm, the refugee tragedy and the Brexit debacle. The pandemic presented yet another threat to its existence. Luuk Van Middelaar's incisive analysis of Europe's resilience demonstrates just how far the EU has come in its development from a regulatory body to a political entity and how it has been shaped by the politics of crisis. If the EU is to thrive and to protect its citizens, it must learn now to be a geopolitical actor and anticipate the action rather than simply react to it. -- Provided by publisher The last decade has seen the EU beset by crisis and Covid-19 has presented yet another threat to its existence. Luuk van Middelaar assesses the EU's response and how it has been shaped by it.